A year before it’s Parker Brothers release, Charles Darrow of Pennsylvania pitched Monopoly to the people at Parker Brothers, and they rejected it.  Darrow, unemployed like 25% of Americans in 1934, saw it as his only real way to fortune, however, so he made and sold his game himself.  A year later, in 1935, after a huge success on a small scale, he reintroduced the game to Parker Brothers, and they started production.

Monopoly was instantly the best selling board game in america, and has today millions of copies of the original and many specialty editions.   The Monpoly Mega Edition, which features a larger board with more properties, a $1000 bill, bus tickets, skyscrappers (that are built after hotels) and train depots that build on railway stations like houses on property.

A children’s version was also made called Monopoly Junior Edition.  It has simplified rules for youngsters.

The first Monopoly Delux Edition came out in 1935 (rereleased in 2002), after the games surprising popularity, and since, many anniversary editions have been produced, especially the 50th and the 70th anniversary editions.  The 70th Anniversary Monopoly Editio came in a 1930’s art deco style silver tin with chrome plated art deco versions of the original dog, speed boat, ladies’ heeled shoe, wheelbarrow, iron, tophat, thimble, car, sack of money, cannon and a horse with rider pieces.

In 2001, Target released the Monopoly Nostalgia Edition which was a replica of the 1957 board with a wooden case, brief history of the game.  They discontinued it in 2005, and now it has become one of the many sought after collectible edditions of Monopoly.  If you’re a collector, or just looking for a great gift, look on eBay for this and other rare versions of Monopoly, and other -Opoly games.