Original Black & White 1940 Soviet Era Carbolite chess set ...

Hi All - Perhaps the rarest of all my sets joined the collection yesterday (Thanks to GoodKnightMike   ). The Ultra Rare original early 1940's Carbolite Black & White chess men. So named for their photo op used in the 1940 U.S.S.R. Championships in Moscow of that year. Though this set was definitely used in later tournament and not for show. Most notably the 1946 U.S.S.R vs. U.S.A tournament in Moscow. These pieces are VERY heavy because they are a solid material (similar to bakelite) except for a small hole in the center.  There were several variations of this set with same color and opposite color finials in different sets. I also have a brown and black version which doesn't have domes on top of the queens. A couple signs of damage but with an 80 year old composite set I can live with it. Enjoy  ...

Do any of the pieces have felt or leather?

a few of the pieces had glue residue from former covering on their bottoms. But my other brown and black Carbolite set of the same vintage had some of its original black cloth pads. So i covered the black and white set with black felt on the bottoms. Here's my other set in black and mottled reddish brown (aftermarket King's finials) . You can see the different queen tops. More like some of the tournament pics. ...

Thanks  . The original sets were made of an early form of plastic similar to Bakelite called Carbolite. Described as "A phenol formaldehyde resin analogous to Bakelite used in the Russian Empire and the Soviet Union" . They are very thick and have a nice cold feel to them.  The knights are the most pleasing of all to handle. VERY well designed. Nice large bishop miters are also easy to pick up. I actually sent some of the pieces from this black and red/brown set to a gentleman in Hawai'i who is making me an exact replica of this 1940 set in urethane. He has already made an amazing 7" King Cavalier set of the same material and uses seamless glove molds. 

WOW! That is a superb set.....I have the C.B. pieces,which are really nice,but yours is the "penultimate" !

Good luck.

Durability more than anything. Here's a link to his Cavalier copy. https://www.etsy.com/listing/585853927/7-cavaliers-staunton-classic-chess-set?ref=shop_home_active_18&frs=1

Thanks  . Yes I was incredibly fortunate Mike chose me to "adopt" the set. It truly is a rare part of Soviet era chess history. 

Yes his sets look amazing. He is working on my copy of the 1940 set now. He uses glove molds so the pieces are seamless. Similar to the originals.

About the knights I agree . One of the most beautiful designs I have ever seen ...

Sheesh! How can one "not" call that art? Just stunning in every way.-

I think the domed queen like mine above are extremely rare as the only place I have seen them was the 1940 U.S.S.R. Championship photo op . Here is the urethane reproduction copy molded from my original red/brown & black pieces I am having made. Note the flat top queens more like those in the vintage black and white tournament pics. They are enroute now and I will take better pics of the repros when they arrive ...

Yes I think the CB set was copying the 1940 Photo op set of the U.S.S.R. Championships. That's the only one I have seen with the queen's finial domes being the  opposite colors. There are so many variations of this set and so little is known. Here's another version with even the King's finials being the same color.

What's not to like?-

There's an auction for a Bakelite set (red & butterscotch) right now here:

https://www.liveauctioneers.com/en-gb/item/89042576_mid-century-bakelite-red-butterscotch-chess-set

If you do a search for "Chess" on the same site, there is a Jaques staunton on page nine, and an ivory staunton on page 11 as well.

Ronbo710  wrote ...
"Hi All - Perhaps the rarest of all my sets joined the collection yesterday (Thanks to GoodKnightMike   ). The Ultra Rare original early 1940's Carbolite Black & White chess men. So named for their photo op used in the 1940 U.S.S.R. Championships in Moscow...."

Thank you Ronbo710 for this informative post and another thank you to all who have replied as this forum has also inspired me to buy Chessbazaar's reproduction of this 1940 Russian Championship set. It did take seven months to finally acquire it as their 2021 stock was sold out by about mid Summer but I'm so glad I persevered! The knights  are indeed very impressive and I find the pieces look just as good on 57 mm (2 1/4 inch) squares boards as on those with 60 mm squares. Here's a few pictures of these Chessbazaar pieces ...

Although Chessbazaar does recommend using boards with 60 mm squares ( as in the first pic. ), I think a 57 mm squares board ( as in the next two pics ) may actually be more to the majority of players' tastes.  Any comments on this? Hopefully these pictures might also be of assistance for anyone wanting to acquire a special board to go with these CB chessmen. Incidentally, I've found that for Rechapados Ferrer boards, House of Staunton has a variety of 57 mm sized squares offerings. If you don't see one listed in the color you want, ask them! I've managed to acquire ones with blue & white and green & white squares as well as the blackwood & olivewood one in the last two pictures.

Gordy W

I own the C.B. set you show and as you probably realize(because these are one of the finest crafted sets that I have gotten from them....owning 11 C.B. sets amongst other vendors)......

The pictures don't come close to doing these gems justice! When I first got my pieces they reminded me of finely crafted lladro sculpted chess pieces.....They are that nice.

Good luck with your gem.

magictwanger wrote ...   "

I own the C.B. set you show and as you probably realize(because these are one of the finest crafted sets that I have gotten from them....owning 11 C.B. sets amongst other vendors)......

The pictures don't come close to doing these gems justice! When I first got my pieces they reminded me of finely crafted lladro sculpted chess pieces.....They are that nice.

Good luck with your gem."

Thanks, magictwanger.  Yes, Chessbazaar did a superb job with these pieces.  I've bought about a half dozen sets of chessmen from them, myself, and I've yet to be disappointed. Another recent set that I purchased from them is called the CB Red Rum luxury Staunton pieces and it made quite the impression on me as well...

Perhaps you own it as well?

Gordy W

Nope,but it is superb.... You have great taste!