"Aviation: The Air Mail Game"
In 1929, Parker Brothers introduced "Aviation: The Air Mail Game" to exploit growing public interest in commercial aviation. The game challenged 2 to 4 players to deliver the mail to 12 cities between Boston and San Francisco. Red cards determined destinations, and blue cards determined flight conditions. Good weather sped up the mail; bad weather or engine problems delayed it.
To capitalize on the public's infatuation with Charles Lindbergh, the airplane depicted on each card was his Spirit of St. Louis, even though the Spirit never flew the mail.
Gift of Anne M. van der Linden and Gregory George-Adis
Display Status
This object is on display in America by Air at the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC.
Object Details
Date
ca. 1939
Country of Origin
United States of America
Type
MEMORABILIA-Popular Culture
Manufacturer
Parker Brothers Inc.
Physical Description
Card game in a red box with silver DC-3 and title of game on top. Contains 27 cards with blue-tinted picture of Ryan monoplane mailplane flying over countryside on rear, and 71 red-tinted pictures of same scene on rear (note: one red card is missing from number stated in instructions). Also contains eight page instruction booklet for the game.
Dimensions
3-D (Box): 14 x 10.2 x 2.5cm (5 1/2 x 4 x 1 in.)
2-D - Unframed (H x W) (Cards): 8.9 x 6.4cm (3 1/2 x 2 1/2 in.)
Materials
Overall - card and paper
Inventory Number
V20070134001
Credit Line
Gift of Anne M. van der Linden and Gregory Georgeadis.
Data Source
National Air and Space Museum
Restrictions & Rights
Usage conditions apply
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