'SHUT THE BOX' BRITISH PUB, EARLY to MID-20TH CENTURY VINTAGE GREEN LEATHER LINED PLAYING SURFACE, LACQUERED WOOD GAMEBOARD, with PAIR BAKELITE RED
& WHITE DICE, STAMPED, PRESSED, BLACK ENAMEL PAINTED NUMBERS & DECORATIVE
BRASS AFFIXED CORNER BRACKETS
[Found in a Lakes Region vacation home on Lake Winnipesaukee in central New Hampshire]
(Circa 1940-1965)
Early to mid 20th century British pub 'Shut The Box' vintage dice wood & leather gameboards
DIMENSIONS:
17 ½" Height (Length) x 10" Width x 1 ½" Depth
Weight: 2 lbs. 5 oz.
GAME RULES & REGULATIONS:
This is an earlier version of the famous multi-player gambling, traditional game often played in English pubs, also known as 'Shut The Box' or Canoga. Often, the rules for 'Shut The Box' vary, since there is no national governing board with an accepted, strict listing of the rules and regulations governing its play. Thus, locally, from area to area and from town to town and even from pub to pub, the specific rules related to this often played and thoroughly enjoyed pub game, vary somewhat, although generally the rules surrounding its play, remain relatively the same. 'Shut The Box' can be played by any number of people, although it is seldom played alone and is most often played by two, three or four people at the same time. As played on site in pubs in and around England and perhaps elsewhere in the United Kingdom, 'Shut The Box' is a gambling pastime, with flowing ale freeing up player's inhibitions and natural reluctance to lose hard-earned money, surrendered to lost wagers. Each of the players pay an agreed amount of money into the 'pool' at the beginning of a game match, with the winner ultimately collecting the entirety of the pool at the end of each round of play. However, it isn't necessary to gamble to play the game but most often, as with many other pub games, including darts, billiards and cards, small wagers are placed with often rounds of liquor being the penalty paid by the loser(s.)
DESCRIPTION:
This post-WWII vintage traditional English pub gambling board game dates to the late 1950's to mid-1960's and is a quite early version of this all too familiar game, enjoyed by thousands all over England and elsewhere in the United Kingdom. The board is comprised of stained and lacquered maple hardwood. The inside playing surface upon which die and dice are rolled, is lined with tanned, green dyed leather. The upper slotted cavity underneath the wooden pins, which rotate upwards and downwards upon a metal doweled rod, allows the stamped and numbered wooden pins to rotate up and down, according to the numbered prize won by rolling one die or both dice upon the leather playing surface. The board has walled sides holding the dice on the playing surface. The corners have decorative brass plates, which reinforce and strengthen the mitered wood corners. The stamped numbers on the wooden paddles or pins, are colored with black ink, decorating the pressed, recessed reservoirs of the stamped numeric wooden pins. This is a highly collectible, earlier version of the well-known English pub gambling board game, known as 'Shut The Box' or Canoga. The board comes with a pair of red bakelite dice with white enamel painted dots. In terrific shape and very well-preserved. Handsome.
CONDITION:
Very Good to Excellent overall vintage condition.