Reproduction and Real Jaques of London Chess Set

You mean, even with a "Certificate of Authenticity"  Lolololol!!

The guy that bought the set will never sell it, he has one of the best if not the best JAQUES collections in the world, he also has his own team of restorers, that set was highly desirable with other bidders just behind £4400, there is absalutely no comparison with this set and the Indian copies collecting wise.

I wholeheartedly agree. There is no possibility to even compare these sets - no matter what condition they are in - with the modern Indian copies. They are not in the same league, it is not even the same game. No copy whatsoever will ever live up to an original.

I agree with @Chasbernie and @EfimLG47 sentiment here - a copy is always .. well just that, a copy. That is ok - one day I may get myself a copy of some of these sets but... an original has a story, a rich connection to history and something intangible embedded in the use of the pieces and the influence of the hands that created them and then … the rub and patina of the many hands that have subtlety worn them through the games played.

I have no historical sets - I just know that when I purchase my new sets - they are not authentic, historical sets. They are lovely nonetheless - but not in the same league and not to be compared to historical and antique artefacts in value or significance.

There’s a beauty and value in history. I do not have the funds to avail such beautiful old sets - as those mentioned in this thread - but I appreciate and admire the collections of those that do.

As an aside, I think my next purchase may indeed be a NOS set from a Efim himself. :-) 

+ 1

Im with you in that my repro from Staunton Castle is fine for me.  It looks old and reminds one of the past and of chess history.  But I don't discount the value of the real thing either.  Its like going to museums or exotic places vs looking at pictures in a book.  

I admire the originals,but my OCD needs newness and flawless perfection.

That's just me and I know it's a bit nuts.

+1. Repro for me too but nothing beats an original. 

I'm in agreement here for practical reasons. I can, do and will get a lot of stress free use out of my reproductions.  I wouldn't dare bring an original Jaques to my club or a friend's home for playing. Don't get me wrong I'm not playing blitz with my reproductions but Rapid and Classical I do.

I would be physically ill if something were to happen to an original under my watch. What if a guest comes over and damages it by accident? Are the humidity levels good. Do I need to upgrade my locks and home security? Did I lock all the doors and windows? Did I put it away when the kids' friends are coming over? Sometimes it's just better to have a repro without the stress.

100% in agreement.

Listening to a repro of Duke Ellington right now.

Staunton Castle this is the 3.5" Staunton Castle Morphy Cooke. It's probably the next set up get from Mandeep. I have a few sets from SC and they all feel amazing in the hand. That's on top of looking amazing. Here is a picture of SC 1849 Distressed which looks a bit similar and will give you an idea of the color of the set if you decide to get it antiqued. If you want it in regular boxwood I'm sure he would accommodate. I was able to get a Padauk Dubrovnik set from them.

Classy set and the same goes for that nice box.

Here my SC 3.5" Morphy set in plain boxwood. This is my 2nd favorite set of the ones I own.

Here is Frank's reproduction of the 3.5" Anderssen in antiqued boxwood. I returned this set because I thought the antiquing was too dark. This is a good choice if you like a distressed finish. The ebony pieces are really nice. Frank says it is real Gabon ebony. I put it under an LED light and it was very dark.

Nice stuff MCH...You have superb tastes.

I have one of those Anderssen sets and thought the same when it was delivered. I felt it just looked brown not antique. But I have since become aware that really old sets do have that brown distressed look. Lovely set to analysis or play with. Nicely weighted and sizing seems to work on boards with 1.75 inch to 2.25 inch squares. So you can change the board you use for a bit of variety. Very adaptable set.

Thanks!

I agree. It is a really nice set. I was highly disappointed to have to return the set.