Very nice set. I have three similar, one is from the 50's or 60's (seller was not positive beyond that but leaned towards the 60s), the second is from the mid 70s (seller was from here, very knowledgeable and trustworthy), and the third (slightly different details of the set but board is very similar) is dated 1975 (stamp inside the board).
Thanks everyone, the seller wasn't able to give any details about age. The pieces are unweighted but I just love the elegant lines and simplicity of the design. It cost £55 including delivery which seemed fair to me.
Congrats on your acquisition. It looks to be in pretty good shape and that is a fair price.
Are there any scars or similar? If so you must create a story. Mine had one of the tops of the white Bishops glued back on (seller told me of it before the sale) so i created this narrative:
One evening two old Russian friends who had not had time to spend time together were playing some friendly games of "šahs" with a couple of bottles of "degvīns". As the evening wore on the candles they used to light the room were burning low, and they realized they must soon wrap up their time together.
They had drank most of the degvīns and were getting a bit boisterous. The player with the white pieces had a moment of clarity and put his opponent in check, saying with a soft chuckle "Pārbaudīt".
Black had three squares but chose the wrong one and white immediately picked up the Bishop and bellowed "MATS!!", slamming the bishop on the square with such force the top snapped off and both men laughed for several minutes ... They then bid each other "Ar labu nakti!" and promised to meet again soon for some more chess.
That's my story about what happened to my set and I'm sticking with it. 
Love the story @Rsava! Almost makes me wish my set did have some scars (but only almost!)
Woah this set looks like the exact same as the one in the final of the Queen's gambit in Moscow
Do you have the name of it ? like the exact one ? Because im trying to get my hands one this one but i always end up on similar sets but not as i'd like ?
Thanks
Do you have the name of it ? like the exact one ? Because im trying to get my hands one this one but i always end up on similar sets but not as i'd like ?
Thanks
From my best research, the OPs set is the set they use in the Queen's Gambit final episode (they they likely used recreations) - I invite anyone to point out a difference. It's a mass-produced version of the Soviet Latvian style and so it doesn't have a name.
I've done a lot of digging on Etsy and found a few vintage sets of varying quality, price and shipping cost:
https://www.etsy.com/listing/837645368/antique-wooden-chess-of-the-60s-soviet
https://www.etsy.com/listing/889981444/chess-soviet-1970s?ref=shop_home_active_21&pro=1&frs=1
https://www.etsy.com/listing/598719480/wooden-chess-set-chess-game-vintage?ref=shop_home_active_87&cns=1
https://www.etsy.com/listing/725711007/chess-chess-ussr-chess-vintage-chess?ref=shop_home_active_67&pro=1&frs=1 (the knights are not quite right on this set, but otherwise the same)
Similar and also beautiful:
https://www.etsy.com/listing/740661661/chess-ussr-soviet-chess-wooden-chess?ref=shop_home_active_74&frs=1
And as someone posted earlier: https://www.etsy.com/de/listing/889981444/schach-sowjet-1970er-jahre?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=soviet+chess+pieces&ref=sr_gallery-1-7&organic_search_click=1&pro=1&frs=1 (though these rooks have notches, whereas the QG set does not)
Woah thanks for thoses links, don't why i couldn' find them xD
Thanks again
These chess sets have really shot to prominence recently following the success of Netflix TV show Queen's Gambit.
Generally, the Latvian set is nice and elegant but the chunky knights are not to everyone’s taste.
I have a similar set that I bought off Craigslist for $15. I love it.
The set should be from around the 50's. The simplistic knights are beautiful and unique. Also the shapes are very unique.
These sets dont’ come from Latvia but from Mordovian and Siberian gulags. This design + finish is from the 80s, but sets sometimes come with boards with much older stamps.
Anyway they look great and are a pleasure to play with.
I believe Chuck Grau has an written an article about them on his blog.
That is a beauty. Quite a few sellers of such sets in etsy. Looks like a modern day repr
Very nice set, I have a few myself, It'd be nice to see closeups of the pieces, the inside of the board looks pristine and new to me though.
@ungimmicked
Are you sure that is a Latvian Chess Set. 15 USD is a sweet deal but an authentic one would fetch much higher price.
Hello, this is my first post as I am new to the game and the site. I just bought this set from ebay and would love to know how old it is. Unfortunately there are no date marks anywhere. Does anyone have any ideas?