Found a Gem at a Garage Sale

So this past weekend I was driving to my son's place for the Super Bowl and as I entered his neighborhood I noticed there was a garage sale. I go to garage sales to see if I can find old chess sets or boards or pieces. Saw the usual stuff, clothes, some tools and then towards the end of one of the tables I noticed a Renaissance Chess Set, in plastic, but the board was in terrible condition and the plastic pieces were in pretty bad shape. That did not interest me, but then my eye caught a  plastic box and I noticed the word Staunton immediately. I saw that it was from a Company called Brian and Eley. I figured it was from an old chess supply company here in the U.S. but after a google search turns out it's in England).  I opened the box and the set was plastic, every single piece was in excellent condition, it was indeed a Staunton style set, the felt bottoms were in good condition but they looked like they were grey, but they were green and they've faded, the pieces were not weighted. 

She told me her Uncle used to play and he purchased that set thirty or forty years ago, well that's how long that set stayed in a storage room. 

So, I am posting some pics, please excuse the poor light quality, the dark pieces look brown but they are indeed the color of dark rosewood. Oh, and when I asked the lady for the price of the pieces she thought about it for a few seconds and then boldly asked for five dollars. I did not hesitate and scooped it up for my collection. 

You never know what you will find at garage sales. My hope is that some day I will find an antique wooden set. 

Oh, my, what a find. And just $5!

Let me rephrase that - what a steal!

Looks great, nice little addition for you.

Excellent find! I as well search garage sales, and scored two vintage German sets complete with board last summer from a neighbor, one wood board that folds in half with felt bottom and one board that is made of wood and "rolls" up. The price for each? $5.00 as well!!

What a find!!! Congratulations!

Wow. I've been looking for that exact set, with the red-brown pieces in the UK without success.

However, I wonder if you know the story of Brian Eley's life? It's quite strange and disturbing.

found a gem at garage sale also

i must of came across him at the gambit in Amsterdam back in the day ! my late night chess / drinking bar etc

Wow, I was unaware of any of that.

I remember seeing adverts for "Brian Eley Company" Chess sets and other products in Chess Magazine the UK in the 1980s.

Wow awesome find!

I actually do, I did some research on the names and man was it disturbing. Thanks for the input!

Nice set though! Quite Fischer-Spassky looking, although the Knight is a bit too tall IMO.

Impressive bargain...but....How much did you shell out for Super Bowl Tix?

Niceee

That doesn't look like a set that should go in a garage sale. Only the box looks old enough! It's truly a steal deal

In Storage the box must have taken the punishment while the pieces remained in fairly good condition. While speaking with seller she did mention that the set was definately used but the uncle would promptly store the pieces. She was a little girl at the time and fascinated with the game but when her uncle began to explain how the pieces move she simply shut down and never thought about chess again; only that it was way too complicated for her to learn.

I am sure that little girl will find a way out and learn things about chess with time. And, the uncle might have been a good chess lover who stored the pieces so well. Wondering if he got any more such chess sets in his collection!