Le Jeu Du Portier, [The Doorman's Game]

Paris: H. Duru, 1840. A Remarkable Survival

[FRENCH BOARD GAME]. Le Jeu Du Portier, [The Doorman's Game] Par H. Duru. [France, ca. 1840].

Original hand colored lithographed board depicting 'The Five Story House" (8 3/4 x 6 3/4 inches; 222 x 172 mm.) with the right hand top corner beveled as issued. Six original hand colored lithographed figures, each on a wooden base (average size 3 1/8 x 1 1/4 inches; 80 x 32 mm.). Complete in the original card box with the top showing a hand colored lithograph of "the Five Storey House". The Board and the Figures in near fine condition, the box a little soiled on the top and the corners strengthened with cloth tape.

The Board is lettered from top to bottom: "No. 6 "/ "No. 5 / Locart Fnt Lunetier au 3 mp" / "No. 4 / F. Sonnet M.De Dentelles" / "No.3 Clagmann Et Cie. Banquiers" / "No. 2" / "No. 1 Loge du Portier." The lid of the box is titles "Le Jeu Du Portier, Par H. Duru."

The six figures are titled: [Le Portier] [ The Doorman]; "2 Proprietaire" [Owner]; "3 Banquier" [Banker];
"4 Marchand" [Trader]; "5 Fabricant" [Maker] and "6 Ouvrier" [Worker].

A remarkable survival. We have searched OCLC and can find no records of this game in any libraries and institutions worldwide - not surprising!!!

H. Duru was an early to mid-nineteenth century Parisian publisher of children's books, games toys and movable books.

According to OCLC their other publications include:

Nouvelle méthode de lecture progressive, ou Lecture apprise en quarante jours
(3 editions published between 1841 and 1851).
Syllabaire universel en action (2 editions published between 1840 and 1857).
Progressive Spelling Book illustrated (in French and English (published 1810)
Les homonymes illustrées (published in 1835).
Grammaire illustrée (published in 1841).
Quelques mots sur l'organisation du travail (published in 1848).
Alphabet chantant (no date).