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Ravensburger Vintage memory® editions

Over the years, Ravensburger has published numerous versions and editions of the "Memory" game, with different themes and illustrations. These vintage memory are no longer sold, the only way to obtain them (in more or less good condition) is to visit sites specializing in the resale of second-hand board games. The rarest editions are sometimes put up for auction, and are aimed more at collectors of vintage games.

Here's a list of the most popular vintage memory® editions. Games are listed in chronological order of publication:

• 15 avril 1959

  Bilder memory® the very first edition

  Publication of the very first edition under the trade name Bilder memory® (the German word "Bilder" means "Images" in English). This is the rarest of all editions, as only 6,000 copies were produced and the stock quickly sold out. Graphic designer Manfred Burggraf von Ravensburger used Heinrich Hunter's game as a model and selected images from Ravensburger® books, games and catalogs. One of the cards (the yellow and green one) features the publisher's logo and trademark "Ravensburger Spiele".
  Game box: Square and blue 7.9 x 7.9 x 1 inches
  Cards: 108 cards (54 pairs) 2 x 2 inches
  Back of the cards: Light blue with 2 turquoise blue triangles

• 1959

  Original memory® 1st edition

  The game changes its name to Original memory® but remains similar to the very first edition
  Game box: Square and blue 7.9 x 7.9 x 1 inches
  Cards: 108 cards (54 pairs) 2 x 2 inches
  Back of the cards: Light blue with 2 turquoise blue triangles

• 1960

  Junior memory® 1st edition

  First edition of Junior memory®. Once again, this is a very rare edition.
  Game box: information not available
  Cards: information not available
  Back of the cards: information not available

• 1961

  Original memory® 2nd edition

  Second version of Original memory, this time called original-memory®. This version differs from the 1959 version in the rectangular shape of the box and in the number of cards: 9 additional pairs.
  Game box: Rectangular and blue 10 x 7.9 x 1.6 inches
  Cards: 126 cards (63 pairs) 2 x 2 inches
  Back of the cards: Light blue with 2 turquoise blue triangles

• 1963

  Junior memory® 2nd edition

  Second edition of Junior memory®.
  Game box: Square and red
  Cards: 72 cards (36 pairs) 2.2 x 2.2 inches
  Back of the cards: Blue granular patterns on white background

• 1967

  Natur memory® 1st edition

  Edition of the first natur-memory®. The cards are illustrated with photos of animals and flowers.
  Game box: Rectangular and yellow 10.6 x 7.5 x 1.6 inches
  Cards: 126 cards (63 pairs) 2 x 2 inches
  Back of the cards: Blue granular patterns on white background

• 1969

  Junior memory® 3rd edition

  New edition of junior memory®. On the cards we find fruits, insects, plants, shells...
  Game box: Square and yellow 7.9 x 7.9 x 1.2 inches
  Cards: 72 cards (36 pairs) 2.4 x 2.4 inches
  Back of the cards: Blue granular patterns on white background

• 1974

  Original memory® 3rd edition

  Another original-memory® edition. The famous Ravensburger logo makes its first appearance on a memory box.Indeed, 1974 was the year the company registered its new blue triangular logo.
  Game box: rectangular blue with a lighter blue blorder 10.6 x 7.5 x 1.4 inches
  Cards: 126 cards (63 pairs) 2 x 2 inches
  Back of the cards: Blue granular patterns on white background

• 1977

  KINDER memory® 1st edition

  A colorful children's edition called KINDER-memory®.
  Game box: Rectangular and turquoise blue 4.3 x 7.1 x 1.5 inches
  Cards: 66 cards (33 pairs)
  Back of the cards: Blue granular patterns on white background

• 1981

  Original memory® 4th edition

  Another edition of the original memory®. The card illustrations were designed by a professional designer named Harald Hurst. The cards measured 2.3 x 2.3 inches but 5 years later, in 1986, this game was published in a large version with cards twice as large (4.7 x 4.7 inches) but fewer in number (only 72 cards or 36 pairs).
  Game box: Rectangular and blue 10.6 x 7.5 x 1.4 inches
  Cards: 104 cards (52 pairs) 2.3 x 2.3 inches
  Back of the cards: White and blue stripes Ravensburger

• 1981

  Dick Bruna memory® 1st edition

  A toddler edition named Dick Bruna memory® after the illustrator who designed the cards. Dick Bruna is best known for writing and illustrating numerous children's books.
  Game box: Rectangular and red 10.6 x 7.5 x 1.4 inches
  Cards: 72 cards (36 pairs) 2.3 x 2.3 inches
  Back of the cards: White and blue stripes Ravensburger

NB: You'll notice that in early versions, the cards were borderless. Later, white borders were added around the images to prevent players from cheating. Indeed, it was possible to see, at the edge, the colors of the hidden illustration and thus to guess the card. The white frame added around the image ensures a uniform edge color, making it impossible to cheat!