Just learned from a rulebook footnote that the first Monopoly set was handmade in 1933.

Lisa Smith · 2026-04-11T11:10:04.941119+00:00

I was reading the history section in my old Monopoly rulebook last night, and a tiny note at the bottom said Charles Darrow hand-drew the first board on a piece of oilcloth. It took me a minute to realize that means every property was drawn by hand. Does anyone know if any of those original sets still exist?

uma4096mo ago

Honestly who cares if it was hand drawn, it's a game about fake money. People act like finding an old board is some big deal, but it's just cardboard and ink. I'd rather play the game than stress over which museum has the first one, lmao. It's not like the handmade version lets you win more often.

9

murphy.barbara6mo ago

The Smithsonian has one, but it's behind glass, so you can't buy Boardwalk.

6

simonb926mo ago

The Smithsonian one is a replica, not the actual 1933 set. Darrow made a few prototypes before Parker Brothers bought it. People get weird about old board games but it's just mass produced cardboard now.

3