Vintage Monopoly Games
Collecting Monopoly Games
The Monopoly Game is one of the top 10 Great American Toy Classics.
Early editions of the Monopoly Game are considered vintage, and are highly prized by collectors.
Games sold buy Charles Darrow in 1934 before he got involved with Parker Brothers include the White Box and Black Box versions shown. Only 1,000 of the white box version were made. The white box edition included the game board in the box, while the black box version had a separate game board. About 7,500 of the black box version were made, but many of these never got into circulation. These Darrow versions of the Monopoly game are so rare that there is not much chance of finding one. Those that do exist are in the hands of collectors.
Darrow's White Box and Black Box
Monopoly Games
Parker Brothers' 1935 Monopoly
with Trade Mark Label
Parker Brothers' Monopoly with
Reg U.S. Patent Office Label
In 1935 Parker Brothers bought the rights to the Monopoly Game and began selling it with the Parker Brothers name, and the Trade Mark Label, on the boxes. Only about 25,000 were manufactured. This 'Trade Mark Edition,' - The no 7 Black Box "Trade Mark" game is the ultimate Parker Brothers Monopoly Game for collectors.
Sometime during 1935 Parker Brothers began putting Patent Pending, then Reg U.S. Patent Office, and later patent numbers, on the boxes replacing the Trade Mark label.
Most Monopoly games that were issued between 1934 and 1954 are considered rare and very difficult to find.
Other
issues collectors look for include:
Any early game that is sealed.
The 1946 Fine Edition.
The 1985 50th Anniversary set.
The 1995 Gold Foil 60th Anniversary Edition.
The 2001 Nostalgia Edition
Various others.
Estate sales and eBay are the main sources for finding vintage Monopoly games. Collectors monitor eBay activity daily, and quickly snatch up any Monopoly games or Monopoly items of value that appear there.
eBay has both helped and hurt Monopoly Game collecting. It has brought much more product to the market, which has lowered prices. However, it has provided an outlet for selling or re-selling games. Karen Power came across a pristine Darrow White Box Edition, bought it for $9 and resold it on eBay for $8,400.
A Parker Brothers Monopoly Game circa 1935 that was recently listed on eBay sold on May 25th, 2008 after 30 bidders bid the price up to $380. This game had a box missing one side, but was otherwise in good condition.
A monopoly game - the official last Parker Bros. edition, '91 was recently listed on eBay at $2100.
To check out Monopoly games for sale on eBay, you can use this link:
To see Vintage Monopoly games on eBay follow this link:
Vintage Monopoly
We found this buying guide for vintage monopoly games on eBay. Check it out. Buying Vintage Monopoly Games 1935-1954