1949 First Edition Clue Game Analyzed

[Murder by Death]

I finally picked up a first edition copy of the first 1949 Clue game. It's in great original condition so I thought I would post a little in depth analysis of it since I had such a hard time locating images and details when I was trying to find out more about it.

First, the game is instantly marked by its simple box cover. Note the lack of any references to Parker Brothers, or copyright notices.




The only notice that any aspect of this game is protected on the box is the simple word "Trademark" under the "Clue" brand name.




The only reference to a manufacturer is to the original patent holders, John Waddington, though it does indicate the game is made in the USA.




Inside the box, the cover artwork is duplicated in miniature on the back of the board, complete with Trademark and Waddington/USA manufacture info.




The board itself is also devoid of references to Parker Bros. but it does have a single copyright notice attributable to John Waddington.




A simple date and copyright notice.




Next, the instructions offer little more by way of manufacturer information. Like the box and board, merely a copyright notice and manufacture origin. Notice the never again used picture of the mansion. Here then, are the first rules ever published in the US for the game of Clue.








The box contents are packaged in vibrantly colored cardboard. Rich blue cardboard spacer inserts frame a white box lined with blood-red and blue compartments. Aside from the usual game components – dice, movers, cards, weapons tokens, detective notes, and card envelope – included in this edition are a set of 4 pencils, also utilizing the red and blue color-scheme (at least one has the original point). Additionally, the only indication this game has anything to do with Parker Brothers is the inclusion of a small booklet advertising their other games. It does not mention Clue, which brings up an interesting consideration ... were there different booklets for inclusion in different games (i.e. would this booklet featuring Monopoly be placed inside a Monopoly game)? If so, I would love to see a booklet featuring Clue from 1949.




The original envelope is black with simple red lettering.




The game contains the standard collection of cards, with one additional card - note that while it advertises other Parker Brothers games, it does not actually mention their name.




Perhaps the most notable difference between the original first edition and later editions are the weapons.




In particular, notice that the knife and wrench exactly match those of the playing cards artwork - the knife is even the exact same size as its picture!




And finally, note the subtle variation of the candlestick and gun that appear only in the early editions – the candlestick has the manufacturer "Tootsietoy, Made in USA" stamped on the bottom, and the gun actually has a hole in the barrel.

[WarnerPlum]

Absolutely astounding!! And it's like new! What a find!
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"Caveat emptor, Plum: let the buyer beware."
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[BBP]

It's beautiful! I love the little cartoon drawings on it!

It's interesting to see how versions differ: my 60s Dutch board uses 1 die, but much larger squares (it takes Ms Scarlet 5 steps to reach the lounge). The 90s version, with which I grew up, does use the same board layout, but 2 dice. And the rules indicate a player may stay and suggest every turn in a room for as long as he wishes. There is, though, a limit to using the secret passage: you may only use them twice in a row. Let me tell you, once you're used to that, the PC game Murder At Boddy Mansion is very frustrating.

So, thank you very much for posting the rules!

[Murder by Death]

The first edition game was also simultaneously released in a smaller square box design, referenced by Parker Bros. as the "Standard" edition – the long box was called the "Deluxe" edition (hard to believe the mere addition of a box to contain everything qualified it as "deluxe"!). The contents would have been identical to the inner white tray pictured above (in fact the inner white tray from the Deluxe edition doubled as the box bottom for the Standard edition), with the obvious exception that the game board was separate from the box.

I do not have the original first Standard edition, and I have never seen one for sale on eBay, suggesting this is even more rare than the original first edition, likely in part due to the fact that the boards and boxes became separated, the small boxes were more fragile, and as a result probably got tossed out at some point.

However I do have an original second Standard edition, which is identical to the original first Standard edition, except on the box cover "Detective" is replaced by "Sherlock Holmes" and the "used by permission" language is added just above the Waddington manufacturer name. Note that the "Made in USA" notice is missing from the small box cover, which is true for the original first edition as well.





Beyond the comparison, this original second edition would have been the very first change in the manufacture of the game (mirrored in the Deluxe edition as well), with the contents remaining largely identical except for the "Sherlock Holmes" additions. It was during the subsequent Sherlock Holmes editions that the Registered Trademark notices began to appear, along with the usual Parker Brothers manufacturing information and copyrights. So in that respect, there was never an original first edition that includes the word "New" on the box along with the usual Parker Brothers labeling and copyrights/trademarks. It was also during the later Sherlock Holmes editions that the original candlestick, gun, knife, and wrench, were replaced with the standard 1950s versions. The major change to the original Sherlock Holmes edition were the instructions, as they had to accommodate the new Sherlock Holmes disclaimer, and as such was the first appearance of the standard instructions included with game up until the 1960s. Following the short-lived Sherlock Holmes edition, the word "New" was dropped, "Detective" returned, and remained as the traditional box sold (and on which the Winning Moves re-issue is based) until the first major redesign in 1956. Technically the third edition, it is alternately the third major variation of the first edition.

For additional information and history please see this excellent eBay guide:

http://reviews.ebay.com/How-to-ID-a-1st-Edition-Parker-Brothers-1949-CLUE-Game?ugid=10000000003051245

[Kristev]

Bless you for showing us all of this.
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