Author: Frank Camaratta

Small Antique Wooden Chessboard. A Small Antique Wooden Chessboard with a raised rolled frame.  This antique Walnut and Maple Chessboard measures 16″ with 1-7/8″ squares. The age of this chessboard is uncertain, but it is in excellent condition. This chessboard will work extremely well with antique Jaques and other Library-size chessmen.

Antique Folding Chess Board. An Antique Folding Chess Board. The construction is mottled gold paper back and gold-trimmed squares over cardboard. The Antique Folding chessboard measures 16-0″ square. The individual squares are 1-5/8″, Red and off-White, outlined in gold. This antique  chessboard is in quite good condition for its age and the seam is still in tact.  The covering is sound and the chessboard lies flat.  Based on the back design and the gold-outlined red and white squares, the chessboard was produced in The United Kingdom around 1850. The chessboard…

Antique Jaques Folding Cardboard Chessboard. An Antique Jaques Folding Cardboard Chessboard. The construction is mottled gold paper back and gold-trimmed squares over cardboard. The chessboard measures 15-5/8″ square. The individual squares are 1-5/8″, black and off-White, outlined in gold. The maker’s stamp, J. Jaques & Son, Ltd., Games Manufacturers, London, is embossed in gold print along the border. This antique  chessboard is in good, serviceable condition with a small tear on the playing surface as shown in  the attached images. The folding seam is still in tact.  The covering is…

Antique Burmese Type IV Macao Chessmen. Offered here is a set of elaborately carved Macao Chessmen, natural and red-stained. The King stands a full 3-1/2” tall with a 1-1/2″ diameter base. These sets were produced in Canton, China, around 1820 and were most likely sold in Macao. The Type IV Burmese Chessmen are often referred to as Macao Chessmen. They are characterized by a fully carved head mounted atop elaborately carved pedestals with splayed leaf bases. The Macao Chessmen are housed in a newer, elaborately carved sandalwood replacement box. The chess…

Library BCC Royal Chessmen. An early set of Library BCC Royal Chessmen, weighted,  with green baize base pads. The chess pieces are crafted from Boxwood and Ebony. The King stands 3-1/4″ tall with a 1-5/8″ diameter base. The Kingside Knight and Rook from each army are stamped with the red King’s crown. The Library BCC Royal Chessmen are housed in their original Mahogany hinge-top box with a remnant of the original British Chess Company label. Also included are two original laminated game scores and an original laminated British Chess Company score…

British Chess Company Royal Staunton Chessmen, Club Size. An early full Club-size British Chess Company Royal Chess Set, heavily weighted,  with green baize base pads. The chess pieces are crafted from Boxwood and Ebony. The King stands 4-1/4″ tall with a 2-0″ diameter base. The Kingside Knight and Rook from each army are stamped with the red King’s crown. The chessmen are housed in a period stained Mahogany hinge-top box with a reproduction British Chess Company label. Also included is an original Sales Receipt from A. E. J. Mackett-Beeson showing the…

Large Bone Rajasthan Chess Set. Offered here is a very large, Magnificent, Rajasthan Chess Set 6-0″ tall with a 4-7/8″ Base. The image attached shows a height comparison with a Full Club-size 4-3/8″ Jaques Staunton King. Incredible in both composition and presence, this Indian carved figural chess set is composed of 32 pieces, crafted with meticulous attention to detail, in the finest Camel Bone. The two armies are differentiated by a red band around their base. These chess sets are often confused with the much older and more elaborately carved…

Mother of Pearl and Buffalo Horn Miniature Chess Set. Offered here is an unusual Buffalo Horn Miniature Chess set.  This portable game consists of a complete set of 32 French Regénce style Buffalo and Elk Horn chess pieces. The chessmen are stored in a folding Black lacquered chessboard having Mother-of-Pearl squares adorned with floral pen work. The chessboard measures 6-5/8″ square when opened. The King stands 7/8″ tall. The chess pieces and folding Mother-of-Pearl chessboard are in excellent condition. This item dates to around 1950. The manufacturer is unknown, but…

French Staunton Chessmen Library Size. Offered here is a set of early 20th Century French Staunton Chessmen Library Size, Natural and Black lacquered Boxwood, lightly weighted and felted. The King stands 3-1/4″ tall with a 1-1/2″ diameter base. The summits of the Kingside Rooks and Knights are stamped with the red King’s crown emblem. The Knights are somewhat crudely carved. The pieces are in excellent condition and appear to have been rarely used. These sets were produced after WWI, probably around 1925 – 1940. The Chessmen are housed in their…

Antique Jaques Parlor Game Compendium. Offered here is a very unusual Antique Jaques Parlor Game Compendium. The compendium contains seventeen parlor games and measures 14-1/2″ x 7-3/4″ x 8” tall. The stained wood compendium is in excellent condition. The red cardboard trays are generally in good condition with some scratching. All the folding game boards are in very good-to-excellent condition. The collection is complete and the cards are in very good-to-excellent condition. All Dominoes, 32 Chess pieces and 30 Draughtsmen are present. One of the four painted lead horses (green)…