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When was Monopoly first published?

By Erik Arneson, About.com

Question: When was Monopoly first published?
Answer: Monopoly was first published commercially by Parker Brothers in 1935.

Before that, Charles Darrow self-published a version beginning around 1930. Lizzie Magie patented her The Landlord's Game, which is strikingly similar to Monopoly, in 1904 and self-published it around that time. Her game grew in popularity and by the late 1920s had spread quite significantly, being self-published by various people under several names.

For more information, visit our History of Monopoly directory.

Erik Arneson
Guide since 1999

Erik Arneson
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