How to Find a Marble Game
Marbles have fascinated children and adults alike for generations. Portable and adaptable, they are used in countless games around the world. For example, Mancala is a strategy marble game that historians think originated in Africa or the Arabic world. Believed to be the oldest board game in the world, it is still played today. Whether you are looking for an entertaining family game or a rare find, there are marble games waiting to be discovered.
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Instructions
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Browse game retailers for recent and new marble board games. Look for Marble Mania 3D, Stay Alive, Don't Lose Your Marbles and Othello. Do not overlook educational games or Montessori retailers. Often they will carry marble board games like Abalone, Muggins and Solitaire, to name a few. There are also variations of Mancala, such as Oware, the national game of Ghana, or the Indian version, Pallanguzhi.
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Check out auctions for vintage, antique and rare marble games. Auction houses such as Bonhams, GoAntiques and liveauctioneers.com sell collectible marble board games such as an Ethiopian Mancala game with an estimated value of $2,000 to $3,000. Take a look at publications such as "Toy Collector Magazine" and "Antique Trader" for classified listings and upcoming auctions.
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Explore thrift stores and charity shops such as Amvets and Father Joe's Villages or browse weekend garage sales if you're looking for a nonspecific, second-hand marble board game to play. This option is more hit or miss, but you may stumble on a gem.
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Visit antique stores or online antique websites such as AntiqueToys.com or Games Gone By that offer toys and other gaming paraphernalia. If they don't have what you are looking for, ask if they will lend a hand in the hunt for the elusive marble game you seek.
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Discover handcrafted or heirloom-quality wooden marble board games at craft shows, specialty shops and artisan websites such as artfulhome.com or antiquitygamecrafters.com. This will likely yield classic games such as Chinese checkers, Mancala and solitaire.
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Ask other posters on board game forums such as BoardGameGeek or The Games Forum for pointers on less-trodden sites and places to shop. Learn of new and upcoming games and swap or trade with other enthusiasts.
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Tips & Warnings
When buying a second-hand, vintage or antique marble board game, inspect the condition of the board and the marbles.
Marbles are a potential choking hazard--keep them away from pets and children under 3.
