Sad? It will only be sad if we stop wanting the ones we have already. These forums only talk about a fraction of the interesting chess sets out there.
The certificate pretty much means nothing! I owned a print/marketing business for 35 years and could literally reproduce anything easily.
The sad thing was that there were times unsavory folks would ask me to do things like print doctor's certificates etc.
They were asked to leave,with a call to the local police.
Thanks for your honest opinion azbobcat, I get your point but again, having a chance to get what I consider a good set for a good price (for now) doesn't happen too often in this country. A pity about the documentation but as long as the pieces are in good shape and the craftsmanship is top quality (to my eyes and by checking the pictures, it looks like it is) I'm more than satisfied.
On a side note, I really need a large board to play with my Chavet B212 which has a 4.4" King so this 23" will do fine I think.
I have one questions. Are Jaques chessmen made from a single piece of wood each? I read the newer King cross can be replaced? About the Knight. It looks like the base and the body of the horse are separated in most pictures I've seen... sometimes (specially on old sets) the colors don't even match.
It is typical that Kings crosses are attached separately regardless of if they are permanently attached or replacable. Same goes with knights. Most consist of a body carved and placed on a separate base, although some are one piece.
Interesting, thanks for the info! Are these reintroduced set Knights one piece?
I'm a video game player and collector, owning everything from old Nintendo Game & Watch handhelds to many system cartridges, CDs, DVDs all the way to full Cave PCB kits that cost $3,000 so I know how important is from a collector's point of view to hold a couple of meaningless papers. Sometimes, a single card board costs more than the game that is inside. Or a piece of paper included on the outside of Japanese game boxes (PC-Engine CD, Sega Saturn and PSX) called obi, that can increase the value of the game that still has it exponentially. I buy my games to play them but I also appreciate the beauty of those little things like manuals that came with the games originally when sold 30-40 years ago. There's people who value these things and people who doesn't. Throughout the years I learn to respect both.
Well, there is a new set, actually 2 in different sizes in this game.
It appears the great Frank Camaratta has done it again. And it looks as if the competition has improved both quality and price.
I just received an email for HoS and their 12 days of Chessmas. Day number 9 has The Camaratta Collection now having The 1849 Collector Series Luxury Chess Pieces in 4.0” and 4.4” sizes.
And their prices are very low for these type of pieces. Plus they are offering them in a lot of different woods.
I have not had a chance to do a close comparison and look at the pictures, but boy, have they ever arrived!
Thanks for the heads up Eyechess! The set looks beautiful indeed and for a good price. I really like the Knights and Bishops.
As for the 4" JoL Reintroduction set + board, I ended up getting it for $380 (£290) and yes, it is genuine. The chessmen look way better than I expected, just perfect and pretty heavy, specially compared to my weighted Chavet sets, even the 4.4" one. The board is massive! I never owned a 23" board and maybe it is no the best for blitz but I love it. The "spots" were actually part of the wood. I'll upload some pictures soon.
Well, there is a new set, actually 2 in different sizes in this game.
It appears the great Frank Camaratta has done it again. And it looks as if the competition has improved both quality and price.
I just received an email for HoS and their 12 days of Chessmas. Day number 9 has The Camaratta Collection now having The 1849 Collector Series Luxury Chess Pieces in 4.0” and 4.4” sizes.
And their prices are very low for these type of pieces. Plus they are offering them in a lot of different woods.
I have not had a chance to do a close comparison and look at the pictures, but boy, have they ever arrived!
Yep I got the same message. I was intrigued that he is offering a set in Boxwood and Rosewood. Indeed I think he is following up on a historical rumor that of the many sets that JoL created he also created one in Boxwood and Rosewood. Except for a few ads that appeared at that time that JoL offered such a set, there is no proof that such a set was ever created. That HOS is featuring such a set in the Camaratta Collection, 1849 Collector Series Luxury Chess Pieces, brings into existence a set that JoL advertised, but never created. Bravo to HOS in creating this set.
Yes, this set looks very nice.
I will not be buying one because I like my sets to be small enough to do best on a 2.25" square down to a 2.0" square size.
I already own a few sets that need the larger square but just find myself going to the smaller sets more often.
Yes, this set looks very nice.
I will not be buying one because I like my sets to be small enough to do best on a 2.25" square down to a 2.0" square size.
I already own a few sets that need the larger square but just find myself going to the smaller sets more often.
My thoughts exactly.
Q: Which sets from the Camaratta Collection (the ones with the leather bases) fit the bill regarding playability on a 2.25" board? I'm mostly interested in traditional Staunton design good for tournament play, not pre-Staunton or overly intricate designs.
My thoughts exactly.
Q: Which sets from the Camaratta Collection (the ones with the leather bases) fit the bill regarding playability on a 2.25" board? I'm mostly interested in traditional Staunton design good for tournament play, not pre-Staunton or overly intricate designs.
Some years back I bought a 3.75" Blood Rosewood and Boxwood Collector Series Luxury set. I don't remember what I paid and I'm too lazy to go look. It's a very nice set and goes well with 2.25" squares. I wouldn't take mine to a tournament though.
Well, my 2 Camaratta designed sets that I use most are the HoS Craftsman Series set and the Camaratta Signature Cook Series with the 3.6”(or something like that) King height.
I have the Craftsman in Blood Rosewood and the other in Mopane.
My thoughts exactly.
Q: Which sets from the Camaratta Collection (the ones with the leather bases) fit the bill regarding playability on a 2.25" board? I'm mostly interested in traditional Staunton design good for tournament play, not pre-Staunton or overly intricate designs.
Some years back I bought a 3.75" Blood Rosewood and Boxwood Collector Series Luxury set. I don't remember what I paid and I'm too lazy to go look. It's a very nice set and goes well with 2.25" squares. I wouldn't take mine to a tournament though.
Is that Drueke board old or newer one. Where did you bought that?
Has anyone purchased this set, wondering if it is an accurate reproduction of the 1849 Staunton set and if it is good quality and worth the price? Interested in any comments.
https://thechessstore.com/1849-heirloom-staunton-chess-set-distressed-ebony-boxwood-with-walnut-molded-chess-board/
Yes, this set looks very nice.
I will not be buying one because I like my sets to be small enough to do best on a 2.25" square down to a 2.0" square size.
I already own a few sets that need the larger square but just find myself going to the smaller sets more often.
My thoughts exactly.
Q: Which sets from the Camaratta Collection (the ones with the leather bases) fit the bill regarding playability on a 2.25" board? I'm mostly interested in traditional Staunton design good for tournament play, not pre-Staunton or overly intricate designs.
Hummmmmm. You have the "ordinary" HOS Luxury pieces (and they are Luxury) and then you have the Camaratta Collection Luxury sets, which should be more properly called the Camaratta SIGNATURE Collection. Both types of sets have leather pads under the the King, but the Camaratta SIGNATURE Collection leather pads have Camaratta's Signature on the pad. To compare Apples to Apples the HOS Collector Series Luxury set w/ a 4.0" King in Boxwood and Rosewood I bought about 10 years ago cost me about $500 +/- and that was WITH a 20% Discount. Now you can get the Camaratta Collection: The 1849 Collector Series Luxury Chess Pieces in Boxwood and Rosewood Full Club Sized set w/ a 4.4” King for $429!!!
AceFrawley asked about the1849 Heirloom Staunton Chess Set Distressed Ebony & Boxwood with Walnut Molded Chess Board. Looking at the pieces they look like the sets produced by the Chess Bazaar -- they have the same dirty the-dog-got-hold-of-the-pieces-and-threw-up-on-them-and-then-dragged-through-the-mud type of look which they call the "distressed" look. Indeed not only do the pieces look "distressed", but if they were alive they might have given up all hope and ready to commit suicide.
As to the board... it is a veneered board. The company is well known, but the boards are basically particle board with a veneer top (I own one). These boards cost the last time I bought mine 12 years ago about $200-$300 as I recall or maybe more depending on the square size. At $989 for what *may be* -- we don't know -- what appears to be a Chess Bazaar set and an OK VENEER board, that is a LOT of money.
Chess Bazaar use to be a low quality chess piece manufacturer, but they have since up their quality, that said they are NO House of Staunton or Official Staunton, but that is my own personal opinion. That $989 Pieces + Board gets you a 4.4" Club Sized set ( or so the ad says, but one of the problems with Chess Bazaar were their measurements were usually off. They may have since improved their Quality Control. But since the manufacturer of the pieces is not identified... Now compare that with the House of Staunton's Camaratta Collection: The 1849 Collector Series Luxury Chess Pieces for as low as $399, and you can get the Boxwood and Rosewood set for $429. If you can't score a 2.5" square veneer board for less than $550, you are clearly not looking. And if you are pressed for cash buy the pieces NOW and then buy a cheap roll up board (or even a linen folding board which is a step up from a roll up board) and then pocket the $550. If Frank Camaratta has affixed his name to something as he does with the 1849 set, that is going to be incredibly exact -- probably down to the mm exact. Oh BTW HOS has Layaway Plans which was the way I financed the set I currently own. I am awfully tempted to jump on this set myself. I simply can't justify the expense... but I am tempted....
Hope this helps. MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL!!!
I don't know that Chess Bazaar offers any distressed looking sets. I know Staunton Castle has an awesome (IMO) distressed look Morphy Jaques reproduction, but I think the House of Staunton distressing is a failure.
Looking at the pieces they look like the sets produced by the Chess Bazaar -- they have the same dirty the-dog-got-hold-of-the-pieces-and-threw-up-on-them-and-then-dragged-through-the-mud type of look which they call the "distressed" look. Indeed not only do the pieces look "distressed", but if they were alive they might have given up all hope and ready to commit suicide.
Sounds like you should work for the Chess Bazaar Marketing Department azbobcat 
Looking at the pieces they look like the sets produced by the Chess Bazaar -- they have the same dirty the-dog-got-hold-of-the-pieces-and-threw-up-on-them-and-then-dragged-through-the-mud type of look which they call the "distressed" look. Indeed not only do the pieces look "distressed", but if they were alive they might have given up all hope and ready to commit suicide.
Chessbazaar produce distressed pieces? Strange!!!
Is that Drueke board old or newer one. Where did you bought that?
It's a Drueke from the original company. I bought it from The Regency Chess Company six or eight years ago. The story is that a number of boards used in a tournament in Canada came out of storage and were acquired by Regency. I believe I bought the last one they had, which they considered flawed because it has a slight ding from a dropped piece on one square. Somewhere in time there is a thread in this forum regarding them. Several people that hung out around here back then bought one.
Has anyone purchased this set, wondering if it is an accurate reproduction of the 1849 Staunton set and if it is good quality and worth the price? Interested in any comments.
https://thechessstore.com/1849-heirloom-staunton-chess-set-distressed-ebony-boxwood-with-walnut-molded-chess-board/
I'm no expert on JOL sets but the shapes and sizes of the pieces seem to compare favorably with 1849 era pictures on this site of historical Staunton pieces.
Jaques Staunton Chess Sets 1849-1939
I'm back. My account was flagged as spam and all my posts got removed, sorry about that. Already talked to the support team and got it all fixed as you can see
Thanks rcmacmillan for confirming the authenticity of the set. I also found an auction that shows the exact same sloppy documentation. I was genuinely interested on knowing the authenticity and type of this set because not many good chess sets are found in Japan. Here Shogi and Go are king.
As for the price, even if second hand and with several spots on the board, I'm afraid is going to cost more than just $100. The shop that sells it, deals with luxurious second hand items and posted it on an auction. I might be able to get it at a good price but I don't want to overpay for it.
If that is the case I *still* would not buy the set. It is simply plain sloppy to put out a certificate with the WRONG DATE! Inexcusable PERIOD!! JoL is simply over rated. Do yourself a favor and buy either a set from HoS or Official Staunton, both have sets that JoL never DREAMED of selling. Some of the MODERN sets are truly works of art.
If you don't take enough pride in knowledge of your own family history, WHY should I buy from you? JoL simply does not give a fig (not quite the word I wanted to use) and is trading on the Jaques name and are charging a premium for it. The CERTIFICATE -- with its WRONG DATE -- is what gives value to any set, since it goes with it. I'm not going to buy an horribly over priced item simply because it says JoL, if the CERTIFICATE that goes with it is JUNK, the set is JUNK!!! If JoL does NOT take enough pride in the sets they sell to include an ACCURATE Certificate, then I'll spend my money elsewhere.
I still have my doubts about all this. People who hardly even know chess know the original 1849 date for the Staunton design. You really think Jaques of London is not aware of that, or that somehow the typo got by everyone in the company before it went to market.? Not likely.
Also, the certificate is what gives it value? Ha. You are buying little carved pieces of wood. Anyone can make a certificate, as fancy as you want. Throw some gold foil on there, and big bold signatures of dead people. And stick it in a box with those little wood pieces carved by that poor guy in India, and charge you an extra grand for your fancy piece of paper. And when you play chess, where is that piece of paper? In a box somewhere, but, a very fancy box, with a little tin plaque on it with more official sounding BS on it, and fake signatures of dead people.
Anyway, the debate about the value of high priced reproduction sets has been beaten to death and I don't mean to start that up again. But I think JOL can put out an overpriced reproduction set as good as any of the rest of them, with the same Indian carved pieces and phoney baloney certificates.
My guess is that the set that was posted and then deleted was not from JOL.