With the industrialization and urbanization of the United States in the early 19th century, the American middle class experienced an increase in leisure time. The Checkered Game of Life (1860) rewards mundane ventures and secular virtues such as ambition. The popularity of The Mansion of Happiness and similar moralistic board games was challenged in the last decades of the 19th century when the focus of games became materialistic and competitive capitalistic behavior. The republication claimed The Mansion of Happiness was the first board game published in the United States of America today, however, the distinction is awarded to Lockwood's Travellers' Tour games of 1822. It was republished by Parker Brothers in 1894 after George S. Ives published the game in the United States in Salem, Massachusetts on November 24, 1843. In all three editions, the paper was glued to linen so it could fold up and be inserted into a heavy attractively labeled cardboard case. In the first edition, gold not only added color and price but homage to royalty. On all three editions George Fox was listed as the inventor and the game honored the Duchess of York. Laurie and Whittle published all three editions in 1800. Water colors were added to make a beautiful product. The game must have become quite popular in England as a third edition was printed using two copper plates, one for black, and the second for green lines to indicate blank spaces. Only one copper plate was used to print black ink and no water coloring was used. Later in 1800, a second edition was printed, probably for rich but common folk. Water coloring was used to complete the game board, making a brilliant, colorful, and expensive product fit for the nobility.

The first edition, printed in gold ink 'containing real gold' using one copperplate engraving and black ink using a second copper plate engraving, produced a few hundred copies. The Mansion of Happiness was designed by George Fox, a children's author and game designer in England. Instructions upon virtue spaces advance players toward the goal while those upon vice spaces force them to retreat. Players race about a 66-space spiral track depicting virtues and vices with their goal being the Mansion of Happiness at track's end.

The Mansion of Happiness: An Instructive Moral and Entertaining Amusement is a children's board game inspired by Christian morality. The sixty-seven space spiral track of The Mansion of Happiness (1843) depicts various Christian virtues and vices.

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