FORMERLY TT.TF WEBSITE
Ths website is also redirected through the URL: history-of-monpoly.info
This site was off line for a few years. My apologies to those who were looking for it. Now that it is back online, it is my desire to begin again with updates and additions; rules, photos, historical commentary, time lines, and so on. I will be adding a few click through ads to support the site. Once up I encourage you to view them.

I have also had a number of questions about a republication of "The Landlord's Game." My first thought is a very nice limited edition replica of the 1906 game. If you have interest in that please drop me an email and I will add you to a mailing list so you can be kept informed of both progress and be valued for your input.
  - You can contact Thomas Forsyth, the website's historian at:   - 

From Berks to Boardwalk - by Charles J Adams III - This article written in the 1970's in one of the best as it was done with personal interviews with the players in Reading, PA, from the 1920s era of monopoly. There are a number of references sited at the article end which is useful in research.

Letter by Eugene Raiford, 1964.- by Eugene Raiford - This article written by the 'Colonel' as he was referred to by those who knew him, writes a letter in response to the incorrect history that Charles Darrow invented monopoly. He recounts how the Todd's had learned monopoly from him and Darrow from the Todds. That Darrow never wrote his own rule set, rather, it was Charles Todd's wife who had made a set of carbon copy rule sets for both him and Darrow. These carbon copies still exist in two sets - the Darrow round game and his first square set. When the Todd's copied the Raiford game they made a typo on the spelling of Marven Gardens.  Combined from MARgate City and VENtor City, the plagiarism of Darrow was such that the misspelling, spelled with an "i" not an "e", still exist on Parker Brothers version Monopoly sets to this day.

Charles Todd - Feb 1975 - Trial Deposition (the teaching of monopoly to Charles Darrow) Anti-Monopoly, Inc vs. General Mills Fun Group, Inc., U.S. District Court, N.CA-
Charles Todd - Nov 1976 - Court Testimony (the of teaching monopoly to Charles Darrow) Anti-Monopoly, Inc vs. General Mills Fun Group, Inc., U.S. District Court, N.CA-
To get a more complete overview of the deposition, trial, and the truths uncovered as a result of the discovery process I recommend you read The Billion Dollar Monopoly ® Swindle.

In a more recent related development Sotheby's recently auctioned both the Darrow boards and the Todd game. Just prior to auction bidding a statement was read, again creating 'muddy waters' as it was implied the Todd game may date to 1937, based on a Todd deposition. There is now evidence this did change the bidding as at least one major bidder dropped out of the bid as a result of the announcement which was not factual. The question now arises is who provided the information and requested the announcement?  Sotheby's failed to mention that later in court testimony by Todd , accepted by the court as truthful evidence and upheld by higher courts that Todd did teach monopoly to Darrow, and that clearly placed the Todd game prior to any of Darrow's in 1933. I have posted both the deposition and later trail transcript including the testimony that was accepted evidence that Darrow did learn monopoly from the Todds and did copy the rules of monopoly, having never written them at all, rather plagiarized when he claimed copyright to them.  Keep in mind that Todd was born about 1896  - Class of 1914 at Westtown with Colonel Eugene Raiford. The letter by Raiford from 1964 (ten years prior to the deposition of Todd) is also posted (above) backing up Todd's testimony at trial.

The Anspach Archives - Collection Listing - These are the documents collected over many years by Ralph Anspach. They were sold a number of years ago and now reside in a private collection of a family member closely related to the Atlantic City era of the game history and are being archived and preserved for future historical reference. If you have a question about the archives you may direct a question to Thomas Forsyth at:

The Billion Dollar Monopoly ® Swindle - The True Story Behind Monopoly®. Truth seeker Ralph Anspach brings us a must read book that challenges other accounts of the history; indeed Ralph wrote much of the history during his decade plus court battles. Supported by facts, this story brings us all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court and back to Lizzie Magie.  During reading breaks you might want to play the game that brought about the court battle -
Anti-Monopoly®, published by University Games

The Playmakers - A beautiful coffee table book by Tim Walsh. It has a great chapter on the history of The Landlord's Game^TM and Monopoly®. The chapter includes a beautiful full page color photo of 'The Landlord's Game' 1906 version.  The complete book spans a century of toys and games this is a great coffee table book for all ages and will bring back a lot of memories for the baby boomers on up.  I love this book and it makes a great gift.

Monopoly - The world's most famous game & how it got that way - by Phil Orbanes, author of previous monopoly books. Phil writes his most extensive game history to date covering from 1903 to 1972. It gives an a view point from a former Parker Brothers employee with access to many historical artifacts and personal relationships.  To balance the historical interpretation presented in Phil's book, I would recommend one read the book "The Billion Dollar Monopoly® Swindle" by Ralph Anspach. It is this writers opinion that one can not get an accurate take on the true and complete history of the games Landlords or monopoly without reading the facts in their entire context as laid out by the man who uncovered them...

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Let's discuss how we can help each other tell the history.