Donated with the Sanger-Badt Family Collection were game pieces and instructions for “Parity,” a card-based economics game designed by I.L. Sanger in the 1930s, the object of which is to balance the bank of your nation by trading/depositing/spending based on amounts outlined on game boards. Several sets of handwritten and typed instructions accompany the game, evidence that he dedicated a great deal of time to fine-tuning his invention.

In 1937, I.L. sent letters to several game companies, such as Milton Bradley, Monopoly, and Cadaco, Ltd. in an attempt to have the game manufactured and dispersed. Unfortunately, it does not appear that his efforts were successful. 

Game pieces include:

  • 15 cards representative of “Francs” in denominations of 100 billion to 1500 billion, plus a card that says “France International”
  • 15 cards representative of “Lire” in denominations of 100 billion to 1500 billion, plus a card that says “Italy International”
  • 15 cards representative of “Dollars” in denominations of 5 billion to 75 billion, plus a card that says “United States International”
  • 15 cards representative of “pounds” in denominations of 1 billion to 15 billion, plus a card that says “England International”
  • An additional card that says, “Royal International.”
  • Four game boards, 2 for each country with an explanation of value, interest, and parity of one to five gold bars based on various currency amounts