1st Edition Monopoly 1935 Parker Brothers

Parker Brothers was producing 20,000 Monopoly games per week within months of acquiring the rights in 1935. That kind of volume means your old Monopoly set is probably not as rare as you hope. But - specific 1935 variants with the right markings can be worth $300 to $1,000. And the truly rare pre-Parker Brothers editions from 1934? Those are already in collectors' hands, and worth significantly more. Here's how to figure out what you have.

Quick Value Summary


Item	1st Edition Monopoly (1935, Parker Brothers)
Year	1935
Category	Collectible Toys & Games - Board Games
Manufacturer	Parker Brothers
Condition Range
Standard 1935 Edition, Incomplete	$15 – $50
Standard 1935, Complete, Good	$50 – $200
Patent Pending or Trade Mark Edition	$200 – $500
Patent Pending, Excellent / Complete	$300 – $900
Near Mint, Sealed	$380 – $1,000
Pre-Parker Brothers (1934 Darrow)	Extremely Rare (already in collections)
Rarity	Common (standard) / Uncommon (Patent Pending / Trade Mark variants)

The Story

Monopoly's origin story is more complicated than Parker Brothers wanted you to believe. The company long credited Charles Darrow as the sole inventor, but the game evolved from Elizabeth Magie's "The Landlord's Game" (patented 1904) through various homemade versions played in Quaker communities.

What matters for collectors: Charles Darrow sold handmade versions of the game in 1934 - first a white box edition, then a black box edition. These pre-Parker Brothers games are among the rarest board game collectibles in existence. Most are accounted for in established collections.

Parker Brothers acquired the rights and began mass production in 1935. They ramped up fast. By mid-1935, they were churning out 20,000 copies per week. The game was an instant phenomenon during the Great Depression - people loved the fantasy of becoming a real estate mogul, even on cardboard.

The 1935 editions went through several printings, each with subtle differences:

Patent Pending edition - has "patent pending" printed on the box
Trade Mark edition - has Parker Brothers name and Trade Mark label
Standard edition - the most common, no special markings

How to Identify Your Edition

The Markings That Matter

Check the box top carefully:

"Patent Pending" - This text indicates one of the earliest Parker Brothers printings. Most valuable standard variant
"Trade Mark" with Parker Brothers label - Second most valuable
Neither marking - Standard 1935 edition. Most common, least valuable

Board Details

"1933" printed on the board indicates the earliest variant
Early editions have wooden playing pieces (tokens)
Later 1935 editions transitioned to metal tokens

Completeness Checklist

A complete 1935 Monopoly set includes:

Game board
Property deed cards
Community Chest and Chance cards
Paper money
Playing tokens (wood or metal, depending on printing)
Two dice
Houses and hotels
Instructions
Original box

Missing any components reduces value. But even a damaged box from the Patent Pending edition has collector value.

Value by Variant

Edition	Condition	Value
Standard 1935, incomplete	Fair	$15 – $50
Standard 1935, complete	Good	$50 – $200
Trade Mark edition, complete	Good	$150 – $400
Patent Pending, complete	Good	$200 – $500
Patent Pending, excellent	Very Good	$300 – $900
Any 1935, sealed/near mint	Exceptional	Up to $1,000
Pre-Parker Brothers (1934)	Any	Extremely rare - price by negotiation

The honest truth: Most vintage Monopoly games - even genuinely old ones - sell for under $200. The game was mass-produced from day one. Age alone doesn't equal value. The specific variant and condition matter.

Authentication

Box printing quality and style should match known 1935 Parker Brothers production
"Patent Pending" or "Trade Mark" text must be original printing, not added
Component materials - wooden tokens indicate earlier printing than metal
Board printing - check for "1933" date and correct street names
Paper quality and printing of money and cards should show appropriate aging

Where to Sell

eBay - The most active market for vintage board games. Price based on completed sales, not active listings
Board game collector groups - Facebook and Reddit communities
Antique shows and flea markets - Good for quick sales
Heritage Auctions - Only for exceptional examples (sealed, Patent Pending)

Be realistic. A standard 1935 Monopoly in good condition sells for $50 to $200. Don't price based on the highest eBay listing you can find - check sold listings for real data.

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Common Questions

How much is a 1935 Monopoly game worth?

$15 to $1,000 depending on the variant and condition. A standard 1935 edition in good complete condition: $50 to $200. A Patent Pending edition in excellent condition: $300 to $900.

Is my old Monopoly game valuable?

Probably modestly so. Games from 1934-1954 are harder to find. But even vintage Monopoly sets were mass-produced. Check for the "Patent Pending" or "Trade Mark" markings on the box - those are the variants with real collector value.

What about the 1934 Darrow editions?

The pre-Parker Brothers white box and black box editions made by Charles Darrow are extremely rare. If you have one, it's a significant find. Most are already documented in established collections.

Are any Monopoly special editions valuable?

Some special editions and variants have collector appeal: the No. 7 Black Box (about 25,000 produced), early international editions, and novelty versions. But standard Monopoly sets from any era rarely exceed $200 in value.