Museum Collections
Luce Center
The Game of City Life or the Boys of New York
Object Number:
2000.749
Date:
1889
Medium:
Cardboard
Dimensions:
card: 3 1/2 x 2 1/2 in. (8.9 x 6.4 cm)
Box: 6 1/4 x 4 1/2 x 1 in. ( 15.9 x 11.4 x 2.5 cm )
Description:
Card game with box and 42 playing cards; on cover of cardboard box, lithographed illustration of a fireman, and a runaway carriage; cover inscribed, "THE GAME/ OF/ CITY LIFE/ OR THE/ BOYS/ OF/ NEW/ YORK/ McLOUGHLIN BROS.N.Y.;" 42 playing cards each with an image of a man, his profession, and the points.
Gallery Label:
The Game of City Life reflects American fascination with New York as a "sin city." The game's cards contain vivid illustrations of "the scenes, characters, and incidents common to life in a large city," including wife beater, cruel woman, strong-minded woman, street gamin, rum seller, defaulting bank cashier, capitalist, dude, and the corner loafer.
Bibliography:
Hofer, Margaret K. "The Games We Played: The Golden Age of Board & Table Games." New York: Princeton Architectural Press, 2003.
Credit Line:
The Liman Collection
Due to ongoing research, information about this object is subject to change.