From the "core" collection - Book Shelf Games by 3M and Avalon Hill

Okay, let's get this down first. Avalon Hill called them, "Bookcase" games, and 3M called them, "Bookshelf" games. In either case, they were all some of the best games ever produced. Does anyone remember TWIXT? That one is really fun. You have to compete against one other person to link you plastic bridge from one side of the board to the other. That's an easy way to explain the game, but on a rainy day this game provided hours of fun!

Over the years, I have built up a pretty nice collection of about 35 bookcase/bookshelf games by 3M and Avalon Hill. I really enjoy collecting the games. Feudal, Mr. President, and Break Through are really good games. Feudal has about 50 small minature pieces of men on horseback and standing and you play on a board similar to chess. This one is one of my favorites. Mr. President was the very first 3M game that I purchased on eBay. I bought one and did not know it was incomplete because I did not have the instructions.

I now have two and they are both complete. I purchased them two summers ago during a downtime on eBay. The bookshelf games can be hard to locate at Thrift Stores and Yard Sales. You really need to get to the store early or yard sale before it opens! I am finding that the value is slowly increasing on these games as they grow harder and harder to find. I think probably the rarest game in this category would be 3M's JATI. Right now, on eBay, there is one selling for close to $1,000.00!! The reason is b ecause JATI was never widely released, and so there are not that many of them around. However, you can find TWIXT for under $20.00 and Feudal for about $40.00. Many of the titles are available on eBay and some at reasonable prices.

Other games offered from 3M:

• High-Bid

• Bazaar ( only one I don't have!)


• Phlounder

• Oh-Wah-Ree


• Acquire


• Jumpin

• Quinto


• Stocks & Bonds

• Break thru


• Facts in Five