Crew cards for 'Buccaneer' board game

Manufacturer John Sands Pty Ltd

Manufacturer John Waddington Limited

Date1940s

Object number00015509

NameBoard game accessory

MediumColoured inks printed on cardboard

DimensionsOverall: 67 x 45 mm, 0.05 kg
Display Dimensions: 335 x 840 x 305 mm

ClassificationsToys, games and souvenirs

Credit LineANMM Collection

Terms

DescriptionThis deck of 26 crew cards comes from a board game titled 'Buccaneer' which was manufactured by John Sands Pty Ltd during the 1940s, under copyright by permission of John Waddington Ltd in Leeds, United Kingdom. Players are required to attempt to recover treasure from an island or steal it by trading other players' ships.HistoryBoard games were widely distributed before World War II, before the advent and popularisation of television. Manufacturers across Australia often created individual designs for each board game which resulted in highly detailed pieces that became artworks in their own right. They were often used for educational purposes and provided an engaging storytelling exercise for children. The vibrant nature of these board games conveys a long history of fascination surrounding maritime adventure and exploration. They illustrate how maritime themes and history, especially about pirates, permeated cultural activities and entertainment and were cemented in children's imagination as folklore.SignificanceThis deck of board game cards displays not only a cultural preoccupation with widely popular maritime subject matter, it also reveals a popular medium for children's entertainment which flourished before World War II.