Jeu instructif d'histoire naturelle des animaux [game]

Hand-coloured illustrations of wild animals, with captions, in a spiral arrangement. Players move through the segments numbered 1 to 63 by throwing a dice. Includes text of game rules. Of Australian interest, number 17 is the platypus and number 46 is the kangaroo.

The development of board games for children in England was preceded by their use in France by Pierre du Val, geographer to Louis XIV (1638-1715). Du Val designed games for the teaching of geography. Jean Jacques Rousseau (1712-78) also promoted the concept of learning through play and in England this idea was taken up by John Locke (1632-1704), in his essay Some thoughts concerning education in which he expounded his thoughts on learning through play. Abbe Gaultier who emigrated from Italy to France and finally to England also promoted the idea with his Familiar geography.

Just as in England by the 19th century the French were producing board games on a multitude of subjects, and were as quick as the English to take advantage of topical events with a new game. Jeu instructif d'histoire naturelle des animaux is an example. While the game claims to show all the creatures of creation this is hardly true. However it does show some of the more unusual in 63 attractive illustrations. The kangaroo is not the usual image of the animal but is considered to be modelled on a drawing from the Baudin expedition to Australia (1800-1803).

Permission to use this item for any purpose, including publishing, is not required from the State Library under these conditions of use.

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