Thanks to all who have contributed to this thread. Since I last visited here I have found a plethora of information and pictures regarding this sets link to Australia and New Zealand chess. And a definite link to John Purdy. Mr. Purdy actually has this set on the cover of two(!) of his books. One an unusual silver and black version. And I found several pictures of the set being used in the Pan Pacific tournament in Canberra in 1960. I was also able to purchase the other set in this thread from a seller in Serbia due to the great kindness of a poster here . Here are a few pictures I have found of the set. A definite high level tournament set for this part of the World. Cheers - Ron
That's great to hear that you managed to clear up the mystery! I like this set very much.
Thanks 
. There is still the question of where the sets were made. I am in contact with a person at the New Zealand Chess Federation. He found some old ads that suggest John Purdy's sets for sale were imported. Which was what I believed from the beginning. I am trying to see if they have a South America connection. As the knights are very similar to the ones that were made of plastic there at the time.
Here's the 6th edition of Bilguer, published in 1880. Familiar layout, isn't it?
