I picked up a 1961 copy of Stratego at a garage sale yesterday for two dollars, and it is in great condition! Unfortunately, I think this now certifies me as a collector of Stratego games.

The copy on top with the battle scene is the same version that I learned on at my grandma’s house. The one below it with the General making a move, that is the same version (I don’t know where my original copy ended up) I received for my birthday in the 1980s. The white version with the father and son playing is the copy I just bought.

In addition to these three, I have a really nice bookshelf version in a wood case, it goes on a bookshelf like a book (I have a version of RISK like this, too).

The last Stratego is from a thrift store and is the more modern version, but thankfully not with the reverse piece-numbering. The original games had the most powerful piece as “1”, and the weaker pieces going down to the more pawn-like “9”. For some reason, the modern versions are backward, from 9-1 instead of 1-9. Why did they do that?

Unfortunately, there is a Pirates of the Caribbean version of the game, as well as a 50th Anniversary version. I must have these, but only if I come across them. The good thing about having more than one copy though, is that if one is missing a piece (the General version is missing a “9”), I can substitute one from a different game.

The modern version also didn’t come with a board (a common risk at the ARC Thrift Store, where they seal the used games so you can’t inspect them. But if they didn’t do this, there would be total chaos because kids already leave a mess everywhere with the bigger toys in that area as it is). So, I can just use one of the four other boards I have.

This is a lot like Classical music cd’s, or books and DVD/Blu-ray… so much value for next to nothing in cost. And no commercials.