THE LANDLORD’S GAME. 1903-1904 – Elizabeth J. Magie, 1904 Patent

UNITED STATES SPECIFICATIONS OF PATENTS. Pages 144-145. JANUARY 5, 1904.

"The object of the game is to obtain as much wealth or money as possible, the player having the greatest amount of wealth at the end of the game after a certain predetermined number of circuits of the board have been made being the winner."

"The implements of the game consist of a board which is divided into a number of spaces or sections and spaces in the center indicating, respectively, ‘Bank’, ‘Wages’, ‘Public treasury’, and ‘Railroad.’ "

The rules of the game:

"  Absolute necessities: These spaces, which are preferably blue, indicate absolute necessities—each as bread, coal, shelter, and clothing—and when a player stops upon any of these he must pay five dollars into the "Public treasury." (This represents indirect taxation.)
   No trespassing: Spaces marked "No trespassing" represent property held out of use, and when a player stops on one of these spaces he must go to jail and remain there until be throws a double or until he pays into the "Public treasury" a fine of fifty dollars. When he comes cut, he must count from the space immediately in front of the jail.
   Railroad: "R. R." represents transportation, and when a player stops upon one of these spaces he mast pay five dollars to the "R.R." If a player throws a double, he "Gets a pass" and has the privilege of jumping once from one railroad to another, provided he would in his ordinary moving pass a "R. R." If he stops upon it, however, he must pay five dollars.
   Luxuries: These spaces, preferably purple, represent the luxuries of life, and if a player stops on a "Luxury" he pays fifty dollars to the "Public treasury," receiving in return a luxury ticket, which counts him sixty dollars at the end of the game. The player may purchase the luxury or not, as he chooses or can afford; bit if he does not purchase it he loses his move.
   Franchises: These spaces, preferably yellow, indicate light franchise and water franchise and are public necessities. The first player who stops upon one of these franchises puts his charter upon it, and all though the game he has the privilege of taxing all the other players five dollars whenever they chance to stop upon it.  It cost him nothing and counts him nothing at the and of the game.
   Public park: A player may stop is the "Public park" without paying anything.
   Legacy: if a player stops on the Legacy," he gets one hundred dollars cash and a legacy-ticket.
   Mother Earth: Each time a player goes around the board he is supposed to have performed so much labor upon Mother Earth, for which after passing the beginning-point he receives his wages, one hundred dollars, and is checked upon the tally-sheet as having been around once.
   Poorhouse: If at any time a player has no money with which to meet expenses and has no property upon which he can borrow, he must go to the poorhouse and remain there until he makes such throws as will enable him to finish the round.
   Rent: When a player stops upon a lot owned by any of the players, he must pay the rent to the owner. If he stops upon one of his own lots, of course he pays nothing. If two players stop upon the same lot, the second must pay to the first one-half of the rent, (in case of an odd number giving to the first the benefit of the fraction.) If a third player’s throw brings him on the same lot, he cannot occupy it, but must remain upon the space next to it, counting his throw one less. In case of lot 1 the player gets the whole rent.
   Borrowing: A player may borrow from the ‘Bank" in amounts of one hundred dollars, and for every one hundred dollars borrowed the " Bank" takes a mortgage on one or more of the borrower’s lots, the total value of which must be at least ten dollars more than is borrowed. For every one hundred dollars borrowed from the "Bank" a bank mortgage is placed upon the property on which the loan is made, and the player puts his note in the "Bank," paying upon each note five dollars (interest) every time he receives his wages. One player may borrow from another, giving a mortgage on any property he may own and making the best bargain he can as to interest, terms of payments &c. The player loaning the money places his individual, mortgage on the top of the borrower’s deed to show that he has a mortgage on that property, Should a loan be repaid before passing the beginning-point, the borrower saves the interest.
   Five times around: When a player has been around the board five times he may move in either direction, provided he is clear of debt, until each of the other players has been around five times; but having passed the beginning-point the required number of times he receives no more wages. The game is finished when the last player has passed the beginning-point the fifth time.
   Counting up: As the deeds are removed from the lots each player is credited with the value of the lots owned by him. His cash on hand is counted, and the amount set down under the total value of the lots. Then the luxuries are counted, (remember that each one counts sixty,) and the amount set down under cash.  Add together these three amounts—lots, cash, and luxuries—and the player who has the largest sum-total is the winner.
   Playing without the lot tickets: Some have found it more interesting to play the game without using the lot tickets at all, players simply purchasing lots as they come to them in the ordinary moving. In this case the player is provided with one hundred dollars to begin with. The number of times around the board may also be regulated by the will of the players.
   Emergencies: Should any emergency arise which is not covered by the rules of the game, the players must settle the matter between themselves; but if any player absolutely refuses to obey the rules as above set forth he must go to jail and remain there until he throws a double or pays his fine, as explained in paragraph ‘No trespassing’. "

Now the question is who would be winner of our life-game after a certain predetermined number of circuits of the life-board will be made.

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