征空すごろく、世界航空路圖 (Seizora sugoroku, Sekai kōkū michizu), circa 1930

Containers:

Oversize-folder 1, Item RL11796-A-0017, Oversize-folder 1, Item RL11796-A-0019

Scope and content:

Publisher: 大阪毎日新聞 (Ōsaka Mainichi Shinbun);

Other names associated: No attributions given;

Summary of Game: 新時代教育遊戯 (Shin-jidai kyōiku yūgi - a new-era educational game) (subtitle on upper-right of board). This large format color Japanese world map doubles as a 'Sugoroku' gameboard and was issued by the Osaka Mainichi Shinbun newspaper as a 1930 'New Year's Supplement', a special reward to its readers. The stylized map game has players explore every part of the globe by either airplane or Zeppelin airship. adorned with their flags. All major cities are labelled and connected by flight routes, while images of famous aircraft, such as Charles Lindbergh's 'Spirit of St. Louis' (the first plane to cross the Atlantic in 1927) and the German Zeppelin airships, shown crossing the seas. The margins feature photographic images associated with different parts of the world, including buildings, archeological sites, animals, or people in local clothing. In the lower right corner, the map features the directions for playing. 'The Easiest Way', as Interpreted by The David Rumsey Map Collection: "Departing from Osaka [1] and moving to all the places in order of 2, 3, 4, you then return to Tokyo [52]. the player who reaches there first is the winner. "throw the dice and proceed as many places as the number you cast..." In the upper right, text informs players of distances between locations, with basic geographic facts. The legend, toward the bottom of the map oval, shows 5 types of red lines & 1 square: 1. well-known large aircraft route (refers to Zeppelin, seen center of map) 2. first-class limited time route 3. liner air route 4. air route already mastered/controlled/conquered 5. planned route. main localities [red square inside black square]." References: David Rusmey Map Collection: 7926.000.

Other Notes: Came as new year's bonus with 大阪毎日新聞 (Osaka Mainichi newspaper), v.1 no. 6755;

Dimensions: 107 x 77 cm

Sources: dealer description provided by Daša Pahor, Ph.D., & Alexander Johnson, Ph.D.

Using These Materials