Passion for games spurs collection

Kristen Hankla
The Post and Courier

Antique games of collector John Ellerbe are displayed at the main branch of the Charleston County Public Library. Shown here are The Battle Game from the early 1900s, and an unnamed set of oversized, intricately decorated cards that play more than 200 games.

John Ellerbe remembers the day he got hooked.

Six years old. Walking along King Street with his aunt. Inside Legerton's she bought him a gift — Monopoly.

He played it so often his father started calling it "Monotony." Ellerbe jokes that he's played 24 miles of Monopoly.

"It started a lifetime of playing games," the 68-year-old recently said of his aunt's purchase.

His passion for playing games led to his collecting them. He now owns more than 2,000.

Inside the glass cases of the Charleston County Main Library are more than 100 of his games, on display until April 30. The games he chose for the exhibit are diverse. Some he believes are one-of-a-kind. Many he hopes will appeal to people who don't know much about games.

"I wanted to titillate people's curiosity about games," he said. "I want more people to enjoy the hobby."

So in the library's lobby is "Nunchuck," a plastic gun that catapults four small nuns "up to 15 feet!" the box brags.

In the children's area is a case with multiple games based of the classic book, "Alice in Wonderland."

In the South Carolina History Museum is Ellerbe's oldest game: Wallis's New Game of Historical Pope Joan. The betting game, which includes cards, coins and a wooden bowl, was made in London in 1811. Ellerbe has opened the fragile instructions only once.

Public Relations Assistant Manager Frances Richardson said the exhibit is the largest of a personal collection in at least the 8 1/2 years the new library building has been open. She said young and old patrons have been checking out the games, and the library has had to reprint its maps showing where in the building the games are.

Ellerbe has traveled to England, Germany, France, Scotland, Canada and across the U.S. to purchase games, mostly at auctions or conventions. The retired financial consultant said he has no idea what his collection is worth; it isn't important to him.

Most of the time when he buys a game it's with the intention of playing it, he said. "The play is the thing. Otherwise you're just collecting art on cardboard."

That's why he has pushed game playing at the annual convention of Association of Game and Puzzle Collectors, which took place in Charleston for the first time earlier this month. Instead of simply showing their collections, members played the games and puzzles each evening until 2 a.m., said Ellerbe, who is vice president.

This month he has driven from Port Royal, where he now lives, to play games at two of the library's board game nights. The final board game night will take place Tuesday from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

"A person should play a diverse collection of clever games," he said. "To do so is the equivalent of buying a health club membership for your brain."

Reach Kristen Hankla at 937-5548 or khankla@postandcourier.com.