The New Game Spring Heeled Jack: a victorian palour game c1893

The New Game of Spring Heeled Jack.
 
Burnley: The Novelty Patent Co., c.1893.
 
Original Victorian parlour game, comprising a printed card box with polychrome lid depicting the masked figure of Spring Heeled Jack above twelve numbered scoring holes, metal launcher, and 15 original-coloured wooden counters. Together with the original printed instruction sheet, “Rules of Spring Heeled Jack”, and additional advertising pamphlet for Popular and Exciting Games Published by The Novelty Patent Co., Burnley. Box with minor wear to edges and corners, small split at top, surface scuffs and light rubbing, instruction sheet browned and lightly torn along folds but complete, mechanism in working order with spring action intact. Overall, very good.
 
The instruction sheet includes a printed legal notice dated 13th April 1893 referring to a “Burnley Express” report and warning against infringement of the company’s patent by the rival “Kangaroo” game. The reverse advertises other Novelty Patent Co. titles, such as Switchum and Afterma, along with another run through of the rules. 
 
A scarce survival of a Victorian parlour game exploiting the enduring popularity of the London urban legend Spring Heeled Jack — the mysterious leaping phantom said to have terrorised England from the 1830s. The game is exceptionally uncommon in any state.