Missionary lotto.

London : Church Missionary Society, [circa 1900]. “Second series. (Revised)”. Original card box, 235 x 115 x 21 mm, with title and imprint to lid (light marks and handling wear, but sturdy and without any edge or corner splits); the inside lid with printed Missionary Lotto Rules (mild foxing); the interior of the box is divided into two compartments which house 24 large question cards and 96 small answer cards, respectively; contents complete, as called for; the question cards with occasional foxing, the answer cards generally very clean (although no. 6 is torn in half); a spare set of question cards is included (more heavily foxed than the primary set).

A scarce complete example of Missionary Lotto, a popular educational game played at missionary society meetings, Sunday schools and among Anglican, Presbyterian, Methodist and Baptist family circles in the 1890s and early 1900s. This is the revised edition published around 1900. (The latest date that appears in the printed answers is 1899). The questions are based on the history and also the recent and current activities of the Church Missionary Society in every region of the globe, in particular Africa, China, Japan, India, Persia, and North America.

‘The Church Missionary Society provides a fine array of printed matter for little people, including missionary alphabets, painting-books, and picture-books for the little ones in the nursery, and missionary lotto and other games for those who are more advanced.’ (Belle M. Brain. Holding the ropes : missionary methods for workers at home. New York & London : Funk & Wagnall, 1904, p. 84)