Would you be able to gather together the necessary equipment, evade the sentries and make a home run from one of the most famous and secure PoW camps in WW2? Well here is you chance and it's far safer. Being over 40 years old and played many times over the four decades this game has survived the ravages of time well. The box looks as though it has scaled walls and dug tunnels itself. Although still strong and intact it has lots of wear. All the edges and corners are rubbed, two corners have split, there is some creasing as well as clear adhesive tape remnants on two sides but having said all this it has fulfilled it's function of keeping the contents safe and together. The lid shows no fading of the coloured depiction of two escapees hiding from German sentries which adds to the atmosphere of being a PoW. The title of the game features a swastika (this gives an indication of it's early age as following editions changed it to a double headed eagle instead as to not offend the public). Inside the contents are in perfect condition. The wooden playing pieces of seven colours are complete as are the various game cards. All are housed in a cardboard storage box which has a few creases as a result of being taken out of the cardboard insert time after time after time. The storage box is made to look like a miniature Red Cross Parcel again giving that feel of actually being there. The game board is in perfect order. Also included are the instruction pamphlet and leaflet. Very interesting is the small booklet about Colditz written by PJ Reid who himself escaped from Colditz during the war and went on to devise this game, write books about his experiences and was an adviser on the BBC TV series of the 1970's based on one of his books. A great game that is very sort after today. A great item for a vintage games collector, someone interested in the history of WW2 and Colditz in particular, or for an enthusiast of 1970's television memorabilia.

Date: c.1973
Maker: Parker Games Division of Palitoy Ltd
Made in UK

Dimensions (Box): 52cm x 36.5cm 4cm