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THE TEN RAREST BOX GAMES
A game's rarity is determined by many factors, including the age of the game, the manufacturer, the box game's original popularity (games that flopped when they first came out are today in shorter supply) and even the success (or failure) of the television series upon which it is based.  Of course, rarity does not necessarily translate into collectable value.  Several rare games are justifiably obscure, and only us completists have any interest in them at all.  Still, if you ever come across one of the games below, grab it.  Believe me, even if you don't want it, there are collectors that will.

PICTURE THIS
The TV show lasted less than three months.  The manufacturer was an operation so tiny that virtually all their TV tie-ins (including "The Beverly Hillbillies" and "The Dick Van Dyke Show") are today considered rare and collectable.  The surprise is what a fun game it is to play.
 
WINDOW SHOPPING
Another thirteen-week wonder, this one is only slightly less rare by virtue of being distributed by a slightly larger company.  And this one is a lousy game.

DOUGH RE MI
This musical identification game was probably produced in smaller quantities than other Lowell games of the same era due to the expense of a quite elaborate piece: the eight-note xylophone used to play the songs.
 
THE SKY'S THE LIMIT
This home version of an early Gene Rayburn program is rare because it's based on a show that was probably only seen locally in New York City.  Its distribution was also likely to have been limited to the NYC area as well.

BY THE NUMBERS
TOP SECRET
What these two have in common is that they both are based on TV game shows that few people ever saw.  Both were developed based on pilot episodes and rushed into production a little too quickly.  Both were expected to be seen nationally, but By The Numbers ended up as a local LA show and Top Secret never got past the pilot stage.  By the Numbers is older but still more common than Top Secret, which had a very short shelf life.

THE DIAMOND HEAD GAME
PLACE YOUR BETS (Dealer's Choice)
Both came from the same TV producer and the same small box game company.  Diamond Head had a briefer TV run and is probably a little rarer today because of it.  BTW, Parker Brothers had a board game called Dealer's Choice in the 70s.  That's why the TV tie-in was released under a different name.

DOUBLE EXPOSURE
YOUR SURPRISE PACKAGE
These were two of three TV shows that premiered on the same day on CBS.  (Lowell released a home version of the third, Face the Facts.)  They are also two of three Ideal games released in similar packaging at roughly the same time.  (The third, Seven Keys, was much more successful as a TV show, but still a pretty rare box game find.) Double Exposure is slightly rarer, again probably because it had a shorter TV run.