Warship games or battleship games have been popular for many years but particularly so during the war years. They often consisted of strategy games although card games and even bagatelle were known to depict warships.
Below are some examples and price guides of warship games or battleships including a “War at Sea” by McLoughlin and a French prisoner of war domino game in a battleship shaped box.
War at Sea Collection United States, circa 1898–1910 A McLoughlin Board Game, featuring a late 19th century three-funnel battleship on cover, which opens to reveal integrated board game with hinged storage for tokens. Together with three American Dayton battleship hillclimbers fitted with friction powered motors. Blue and white Dayton example may have been made by Schieble .
Sold for 1,125 USD at Sotheby’s in 2010
England Expects, the Great Naval Card Game Card Game ca.1940 (published) Made by Chad Valley
The First and Second World Wars generated a lot of games some of which were meant to be fun and others had an educational purpose. These cards are divided into four suits indicated by a Crown, Anchor, Lifebelt and Pennant, and are numbered from one to eleven with the exception of the Crown suit which is numbered from one to ten. The crown is always the Trump suit. The game was devised with the help of Francis E McMurtrie, who was, at the time, editor of Jane’s Fighting Ships.
Reference: © Victoria and Albert Museum
AN UNUSUAL EARLY 19TH-CENTURY NAPOLEONIC FRENCH PRISONER-OF-WAR GAMES BOX modelled as a 58-gun ship with carved wood hull, bone planking over the main wale with protruding guns (some missing), rudder, scored stern gallery, quarter lights and deck, hinged cribbage board to compartment with set of bone dominoes (some missing parts, old wear) — 9½in. (24cm.) long
Sold for GBP 1,800 at Christie’s in 2006
WORLD WAR II NAVAL BATTLE BAGATELLE GAME
.75x12x19.75″ wood frame bagatelle w/tin accents by Durable Toy & Novelty Corp. 1940s. Includes five marbles of the period. Cardboard playing field has graphic showing battle of US Fleet taking on Japanese warships including US dive bombers on the attack. Ships include cruisers, battleships and carriers along with sinking enemy ships. VF. Has w/flat original cardboard sleeve with heavy staining and wear, fair, just comes along.
Sold for $220 at Hake’s Auction in 2018
