There is nothing humble about a game of checkers when the checker board can cost hundreds of dollars. Thatâs a good reason why they are not only used for their original purpose, but as decorative accessories. Not just any old game board can fetch big bucks. It should have great, original paint, and unusual and aesthetically appealing designs, as well as be a rarity. Double-sided game boards are considered rare. Hand-made game boards are more valuable if they can be documented to a specific region. Nineteenth-century game boards were usually made of maple and pine by untrained amateurs as well as skilled artisans. They were rarely signed or dated, and were yet another way for artists to express themselves.