Dubrovnik 1950 Reissue

Just picked up this one today. First reissue replica of the original 1950 design (a bit different from commercially available 1970 set that Bobby Fischer used). This design was only used in the actual 1950 Dubrovnik Olympiad and was never sold in stores.

Maple & walnut, felted, unweighted. Exactly like the original (we'll have to wait a decade or so for that yellow patina, though ...) :

(Update: The pieces in above photo are most probably *not* original. See comments below.)

-Izmet

http://www.fekali.com/collection/

Nice set , was it very expensive ?  

Very nice. Is Gregor eventually offering this set for sale to the general public?

Three sets were made only. But do drop him an email, tell him I sent ya, he shall not refuse. I'll put in a good word.

-Izmet

I sent him an email. Please feel free to put in a good word :)

That box storage looks like it works well - all 32 pieces standing.

Wow... Nice Set..!

I'm not a big fan of the Dubrovnik, but I recognise that a lot of people here are. I always wonder, though, why it is that, when sets are reissued or copied (like the HoS's Jaques copies, for example), there are usually obvious differences. In the set above, the knights have open mouths and pointy-tipped ears, whereas in the pieces from the original that Izmet posted the knight has a closed mouth and round-tipped ears. As well, the rooks in the original have a much shallower top and are angled inwards more steeply, the queen's crown is less deeply cut, and the bases of all the pieces (with the possible exception of the pawns) look flatter and not as rounded.

These differences jumped out at me after looking at the pictures for just a minute or so, so I find it hard to believe that the makers of the new sets were not also aware of them. Which leaves me thinking why didn't they go for as exact a copy as they could?

And, just to be clear, this is not meant as a criticism of the skill of the carvers or the taste of those who prefer one set over the other.

@andy277

Good points. After detailed scrutiny I came to a conclusion that the pieces in the last photo (from GM Parma collection) are not from the original 1950 tournament batch, but were probably produced later. Thanks for noticing.

Here's a photo of the GM Vasja Pirc's set, the only one I know for a fact to be 100 % original AND 100 % complete.

Note the open mouths, pointy ears, etc.

Here are the original 1950 pieces that were used in Sveti Stefan '92. This is the set that Fischer is talking about in that radio interview. (The set was rescued almost by chance by GM Siniša Dražić after the match and is  100 % genuine but damaged and not complete.)

These were used as a final reference: 

-Izmet

http://www.fekali.com/collection/

You are my favorite blogger, Izmet. And I frequent the bestchessmenever blog as well. Thank you for being awesome!

Yep... Thanks Izmet for all the fine info & photo's...!

Thanks for the extra information and the great photos Izmet. Even though I won't be buying one, it's nice to know that they got it right for those of you who do want an accurate copy of this set. I have grown to like the knights but the bishops especially still leave me cold. What is it that people like about this set — is it, as Fischer said, the lack of sharp edges or is it something else? And do we know how many sets were originally made?

Izmet, did you go to see the 1992 rematch?

I'm a fan of your blog and Youtube videos too, Izmet. One day, when I've saved my pennies, I would like to own a set of your BCE chessmen.

Every day there is a new "Hello, Chess Lovers..." video from Izmet is a good day...

>... do we know how many sets were originally made?

I was told 50 were made for the 1950 Olympiad.

> Did you go to see the 1992 rematch?

Sadly, no.

-Izmet

http://www.fekali.com/collection/

Hi Frank:

Check out the Noj Ltd site for pricing and set details.

Yes, thanks Mike. Already spoke to Gregor, already on waiting list for next batch... :)

Hey Frank... Don't forget to post some close up photo's when you get the set. I really like the set!!!

Sure. It'll be a while, though -- the next batch is not scheduled to be made until July/August... Perhaps Jonas will provide us with one of his patented videos in the mean time...

Sounds good! I have my plastic Dubrovnik to shuffle around in the meantime.