Mark Twains Memory Builder

Twain, Mark

Published by Charles L. Webster and Co., New York:, 1891

About this Item

Mark Twains Memory Builder. New York: Charles L. Webster and Co., 1891. First edition, first printing. A board game of paper over a wooden frame with heavy cardboard between the printed paper on both sides) and black cloth wrapped around all the edges. 13.5 x 9.1 in. Board is in fine condition, slight rough edge at top of verso when originally mounted. BAL3432. The contents of the rare pamphlet is included in a transcribed form of "Facts" for the players of the game to employ. The front side of the board is in four columns number 1-100 each with 18 tiny circles for sticking pins for scoring. The reverse side of the game consists of 2 columns of small print giving the rules of the game, various forms of playing it, and the motivations of Mark Twain for developing the game in his words: "Play all the dates you are sure of, and take sharp note of those which the adversary plays -- for use the next time. Many public school children seem to know only two dates -- 1492 and 4th of July; and as a rule they dont know what happened on either occasion. It is because they have not had a chance to play this game." Protected in a Mylar sleeve. Inventory #C-147. Price: $500 In 1885 Mark Twain received a patent for Mark Twain's Memory Builder, a game designed to help players retain important dates and facts from throughout history. Points are awarded by what type of fact is given: 10 for an Accession of kings, presidents, and other rulers; 5 for Battles; and 1 for minor events such as births, deaths, and inventions. Additionally, one point is awarded for facts not related to dates, such as the number of bones in a human foot. The board consists of a table with areas marked 1-100 representing the years of any century with 3 rows of dots for the three kinds of facts previously mentioned and a separate section for un-dateable facts. As a player names a fact he places a pin in the related pinhole. Anything worth remembering is admissible. Play continues in turns for a previously agreed upon amount of time. Memory-Builder was a commercial disaster, though not on the scale of the Paige typesetter, in which Twain continued to invest until it brought about his bankruptcy in 1894. Seller Inventory # C-147

Bibliographic Details

Title: Mark Twains Memory Builder

Publisher: Charles L. Webster and Co., New York:

Publication Date: 1891

Binding: Hardcover

Condition: As New

Edition: 1st Edition.