Games: American Boxed Games and Their Makers 1822-1992, With Values. Radnor, PA: Wallace-Homestead, 1992. The benchmark in its field, this book lists over 2850 game titles and 800 manufacturers of American games; includes histories and/or product listings for 220 companies, 230 black and white game photos or early game advertisements, 8 pages of color. Also includes game histories, guidelines for collectors, cultural timeline, glossary, table of patent number dates, and resource information.
The book:
• documents the development of the game industry in the United States
• lists over 800 American manufacturers of games
• indexes over 2850 game titles
• covers card games, board games, and skill-and-action games
• provides historical information and/or product listings for over 220 companies
• covers game origins
• explains how to catalog a collection
• shows how to handle, clean, and repair games
• explains how to store, & display games
• lists current values for over 1700 games
• furnishes hints on how and where to buy and sell games
• presents an appendix of patent numbers and corresponding dates
• contains a unique appendix of dates of historical events
• includes valuable hints on determining the value of any game
• pictures over 230 games in b&w photos & early advertisements
• has 8 pages of color
Reviews and comments about
Games: American Boxed Games and Their Makers
A Must-Have for Game Lovers and Game Collectors.
Bruce Whitehill has written a terrific reference work that belongs in the library of any serious game collector.
Erik Arneson (boardgames.guide@about.com), May 24, 1999
from http://boardgames.about.com/
The most comprehensive and best-written book on board games, June 4, 1998
I’m sure many of you will have noticed that board games are becoming popular again, and also collectable! It is invariably in times of good economy when people seem to enjoy playing and collecting games. The times in history that the best games were invented were the Victorian era, the Roaring 20s, pre-war economic recovery (late 30s), post-war (50s), and off and on until the late 90s current recovery. Because of this, finding game collector’s resources such as this one is very useful.
I have several of the board game books which refer to the history, have images of, and list the values of collectable board games throughout their history. “Games: American Boxed Games and Their Makers, 1822-1992: With Values” is, by far, the best written and most useful in starting a collection. I feel that Bruce Whitehill’s pricing is very accurate and that the exhaustively researched history of each game and every game company has lead to some important insights about my collecting.
I have found that I use this book most often in conjunction with another good book, “Board Games with Price Guide,” by Desi Scarpone (also available on Amazon). The main benefit of the Scarpone book is that there are full-color photographs of every game he lists. He tends to list more pop-culture games, while Whitehill highlights nearly all of the Victorian and traditional games like the Parker Brothers classics, etc. The Scarpone book also doesn’t price as accurately; with prices generally being stated as a range, and being more wholesale oriented (half retail).
This book has only eight pages of color plates and only 1/3 or fewer of the games listed has a black & white picture, but there are far more games listed, priced, and described (with contents and histories) than any other book. I refer to it three times as often as the others. It also has great, detailed sections on game history, collecting games, and how to price them, and a GREAT games resources section!
Above all, I think this the best single book about board games that I have discovered. I would like to see the publisher/author do a version that has color images throughout, but I love the book for what it is even without the color.
If anyone reading this review would like to contact me with questions or comments, I welcome them.
Jeff McCord (jeff@free-lancelot.com) from Seattle, WA
Just a note to let you know that I have bought your book, the best book about boardgames I’ve seen so far. When do you plan to write tome 2?
Claude Emond, May 30, 2004, by email
http://www.newgamebits.com
For anyone who has spent a rainy day playing their favorite game, author Bruce Whitehill revives those fond memories with this nostalgic look at American board games. Contains listings for over 2,850 games and features tips on determining the authenticity and value of any game.
ebay seller, itsoldmagic
Thank you very much! The book is great.
Dr. Vladimir Krasnoukhova
I would like to say thank you for the games book American Boxed Games which is a staple reference book of my library. A wonderful book I have read a number of times.
Take care,
Larry McWherter (by email)
drakezeus@ameritech.net
Great book! I purchased it years ago for my own use. It is in great condition and you can re-sale it easily.
Best regards,
Brackeng (eBay)
