Lot #44. Vintage Gallant Knight Black Standard Plastic Chess Set

Vintage Gallant Knight Black Standard Plastic Chess Set.

Offered here is a Vintage Gallant Knight Black Standard Plastic Chess Set plastic chess set, the “Saxony”, No. C100. This is an Authentic Staunton design, weighted and felted, chess set.  The set has a 2-3/4″ King with a 1-5/16″ diameter base. Included are a folding cardboard chessboard with 2-” red and black squares and instructions. The chessmen and chess board are in excellent condition. The box and interior are in very rough condition.

The chessmen are produced by The Gallant Knight Company at 147 Grand Avenue, Lake Villa, IL. The sets first appear in The Chess Review magazines in the early 1940s. The early sets were offered in the Student size with a 2-3/8″ King and a 1-3/16″ diameter base; and the Standard size with a 2-3/4″ King and a 1-5/16″ diameter base. They later moved to 228 West Kinzie Street, Chicago 10, IL, and added the small, Travel set No. 100(M) with a 2-1/8″ King having a 15/16″ diameter base; and a large Tournament-size set with a 4-7/8″ King and a 2-0″ diameter base. The sets were produced in a Mottled plastic as well as a Black or Red and ivory colored plastic. the Travel and Student sets were housed in simple cardboard boxes (No. 100, No. 35, No. 36 and C100). The Standard sets were housed in cardboard boxes, hinged leatherette cases and a very attractive wooden chest (No. 75 and No. 76). The large Tournament set was housed in a hinge-top leatherette covered cardboard box.