A “new” old chess set and a chess book haul
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Great stuff! I was at his old place around 10 years ago, maybe more….
The board is Brazilian cherry and maple, squares 2.25" from Colorado Woodworker, very happy with it. Yes that is that same Fred Wilson also the author of Picture History of Chess, which was the book that got me interested in Chess history.
Fred's old shop was in the St. Denis building originally an hotel, with storied past. Paul Morphy stayed there, more recently it one of it offices was the headquarters for the US chess federation(60's?) and Albrecht Buschke the famous chess book dealer had his shop in the building. Sadly the building was torn down.
Fred's old shop was in the St. Denis building originally an hotel, with storied past. Paul Morphy stayed there, more recently it one of it offices was the headquarters for the US chess federation(60's?) and Albrecht Buschke the famous chess book dealer had his shop in the building. Sadly the building was torn down.
Dec 9, 2022
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#5
I've been to Fred Wilson's place quite a few times when it was across the street from Union Square Park. His shop feels like a museum.
Thank you, Fred's current shop is indeed across the street Union Square Park.Can’t wait for my next visit to NYC.
Dec 13, 2022
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#9
Chessreader156 wrote:
The board is Brazilian cherry and maple, squares 2.25" from Colorado Woodworker, very happy with it. Yes that is that same Fred Wilson also the author of Picture History of Chess, which was the book that got me interested in Chess history.
On the wall, he has a photo of Picasso reading that book.
Great store! Fred showed me that plastic set last week. I'm not a big fan of plastic, but was very tempted by one of the Soviet sets he had. In the end, I left it and only grabbed a few books, but I love going there.
tlay
I usually don’t collect sets, but it reminded me of a set I used to have in the 80's, I more interested in old tournament books and game collections, chess history with an occasional opening book.
I usually don’t collect sets, but it reminded me of a set I used to have in the 80's, I more interested in old tournament books and game collections, chess history with an occasional opening book.
Dec 14, 2022
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#11
I wonder if The Village Chess Shop is still around? I bought a few travel sets there in the early 1980's.....Got crushed by an old guy at the time and now "I'm an old guy",but I'm still getting crushed.....Go figure?
Magic
I always plan to visit the Village Chess Shop but just never enough time. Too much to do in NYC
I always plan to visit the Village Chess Shop but just never enough time. Too much to do in NYC
For the first time since the beginning of the pandemic, I visited Fred Wilson’s chess book shop in NYC, actually the time since Fred moved to his new shop. I always find more than a treasure or two.
For ten dollars, a weighted plastic set from seventies to add to the collection, and he had some tournament books and player game collections add to my library,
Fred doesn’t take credit cards or I would have walked out with twice as many books. Fred does have web store but it doesn’t have everything listed that he has in his shop.
http://www.fredwilsonchess.com/