When you collect but don’t take the time to “work” with your collection

This will be a weird thread and I am expecting a lot of people coming with patronizing c instead of constructive comments. Anyway, I think some of you will feel that it is an interesting topic. I am probably not the only collector in a similar situation.

I began my collection by searching for a nice chess set in flea markets when I began to learn chess. If I would know everything would happen I would probably enter the first shop and just buy three sets: a tournament set, a set for analysis or to play with friend in a restaurant, and a travel set. (However, I would not enter this weird world of chess collectors…I am not sure what would be the “best decision”, well, who cares, I don’t have a time machine).

I found in Switzerland some Regency sets (I didn’t know in this time that they were very common in Europe). In Hungary I found a beautiful coffee House set, tournament size. As you can imagine, soon I forgot my primary goal and went on searching for other sets…, and boards, clocks, books, and everything related to chess.

My collection kept growing. I had the items exposed in my apartment during a couple of years, but with the time the whole space was taken by books (most related to my scientific research). I have something like 8 to 10 thousand books (and no, I didn’t read all them; I used them extensively for my work, but often picking up pieces of information from several books). And began to keep cats, who love to play chess…

Biggest part of my collection is now in two floor pavements and two basements.

My plan was of course to have a website to present my collection online or to write a book on it. However, I never took the time for this project, especially because I felt I had other, more urgent things to finish. After I finished my PhD thesis (topic was human evolution) I was planning to write popular books based on my thesis, but I had a burnout and didn’t find the energy to do this.

This was 2015. Now I feel motivated and energetic enough to carry out this project, but I still think that I should take some of my time to go through my collection, make an inventory, and select the most interesting items to present in a website.

Why I am talking about this right now? Well, yesterday I found a box full of letters used by a correspondence chess player, and I was amazed - I simply forgot this box in a corner of the apartment! I thought I should go through these letters and try to find out more about the players - not a simple job, as I have hundreds of letters. I even don’t know where to check these names.

This box is only one of several examples from things I have and didn’t have the time to go through.

Another example. Some years ago I found out that one chess book by Alekhine I found in flea market (I payed only 20 or 30 dollars for it) was indeed hand signed by the author! It was a first edition (number 9 out of 50), quite valuable. I wrote about this in the forum and a collector purchased it (he is specialised on Alekhine).

I found in a small shop in Bern (Switzerland) several tournament boards from the Chess Club Bern, probably from the early 20th century. Beautiful patina, I even sold one of them to a Swiss chess collector.

And so on.

I would like to hear your opinion about the topic. I thought on the possibility to start a project in which I present an item and people can help me to categorize it. The idea would be slowly build up the website until the whole collection is categorized and well described. Is this a good idea? The other alternative would be to sold the collection and let other people to carry out this job. I am still not sure what the best solution. I like very much my collection, but I am not so attached to material things. The most important thing is that this collection would be appreciated and not stay in basements for decades.

Thanks for your suggestions!

I thought on the possibility to start a project in which I present an item and people can help me to categorize it. The idea would be slowly build up the website until the whole collection is categorized and well described.

 

I think this is an excellent idea. You mention that you thought to "make an inventory, and select the most interesting items to present in a website." but I think all of the items could be of interest to some people out there. 

I, for one, love to see peoples collections and any history related to them. The correspondence letters could also be very interesting if they are anything like some of my CC letters where we not only traded moves but also details of our lives. I wish I had saved mine. 

Not sure if this is the type of response you were looking for, but it is my 17 cents ... (that's what 2 cents from my birth, adjusted for inflation, is worth today). 

Thanks for your answer, I appreciate it. Yes, ideally all items could be presented. I can also imagine selling part of the collection and keep some things. I am 59 and planning already what will happen to this stuff after I am not anymore in this world - I always plan in advance

There is a story about the letters. A woman gave all chess-related things away after her husband died: a clock, several books, among others most of the books of the series Tschaturanga from Edition Olms, chessboard and pieces, and the letters from the correspondence games played by the husband.

It's easy to feel overwhelmed right at the start and then putting it all off for another time. Set up the website and start with one or two of your favorites. Don't worry about the collection as a whole. And making it all look perfect. It most likely won't be perfect in the beginning. You'll run into roadblocks and mistakes. It's a work in progress. The key is to just get started with one or two and slowly chip away at it. 

 

Haha! I turn 59 this year as well, and I am starting to think of what to do with my small collection of sets. I have 20 wooden sets and 6 plastic sets (with one of @ShelbyLorhman Ultimate "Buttah" sets being delivered today). My boys do not play chess so I have to find outside people to give them to. 

I am likely going to leave one of my best sets to a family friend who I have not spoken to in years. 

You are right. I will check some YouTube videos to see an easy way to make a website. The first time I did one was a long time ago and it was a complicated thing; I know that things are much easier now.

Have a look at Wix or Squarespace. I have a feeling it might be exactly what you are looking for. They both have large libraries of pre-made templates to choose from. Very professional and polished looking. They do it all for you "behind the scenes" so you can concentrate on creating content and not worry about the incredibly complicated coding, html and backend stuff associated with starting a website from scratch.

What happens with a collection is an important topic to every serious collector. The thing is that chess is only one of several collections that I have. It is complicated

Just to clarify, is this the collection of books, cats, or "chess stuff"? 

Okay, the main part of my collection is related to my research. I have books on different topics, like the history of biology, palaeoanthropology, swimming,  evolutionary ideas. I have a lot of books on primates in general, more specifically on apes/humans.

Then I have objects related to following topics: history of swimming and diving, about racism, about the use of water in culture (like in religion), about depiction of guardian angels (long story). And I have the chess stuff, the only part of my collection that is not related to any research.

Most of the books are not collectable, but tools for my work. I have however some rare books too, which I purchased because they were cheap and I knew the real value. Priority number one in my life is to finish my books and try to publish them, so I can get rid of at least part of the books.

Yes, I just watched a video on Wix. I will talk to my wife and see if we start this project. As you said, it is about starting.

I'd like to see your collection of cats 😻.

By the way 59 is the new 40!

 

You can see one of my cats watching a Novag Adversary playing https://youtu.be/KWED6M-mlSo

I can't see anyone not being totally supportive of your desire. Just a wonderful objective and you come off as a "class act"!

Two things......I do wish you'd keep at least part of your collection for yourself(maybe you intend to do so).......The reason why I say this is,having collected so many interesting "things" over my life time,there are some which simply bring back a wonderful memory of that period when it was obtained.....The times we lived in...the people we were friendly with....the folks who we may have lost contact with.

The second thing is......I assume you have read,or own......"Sapiens--A Brief History Of Humankind",by Yuval Noah Harari.

This was one of the most fascinating books I have ever read.....Just my two cents and best of luck in your endeavor-

@brasileirosim - it would be good to see your collection. If I am reading your post correctly - I think you’re after constructive advice.

On the website and the cat… I think your photos, stories and chess pieces may be richer for the addition of your feline friend. You don’t  need to be an expert photographer nor designer - however taking just a little time to think about the direction of the light, shadows… removing background distractions etc … it will help people focus on your pieces and help you tell the story.

Apart from my newfound enjoyment of chess - I enjoy the art of bonsai. This isn’t my tree - it’s a friend in mine’s black pine - and I have asked permission to share these photos. I think the cat and the tree together are wonderful. It’s just an example of what I am saying above. 

Good luck with your project - I truly hope you do not read this as patronising - that is not my intent. I hope it helps your thinking and progress. 

I built my chess book library because I enjoyed discussing them with an uncle who is a USCF master level. Learning from the classic books and appreciating the work and the lessons learned was our favorite topic of discussion.

I built my stock of chess sets and clocks to accommodate informal games for friends and co-workers. Some re-kindled their interest when they learned to play with a Chronos digital clock and heavy/solid plastic chess pieces over a mouse pad board.

[EDIT]

I built my video library of chess movies for viewing entertainment and chess lessons for my own improvement and to put my wife to sleep.

Finally, I have a small number of electronic chess computers because I always had a strong fascination for them ever since I was a child. This is my idea of "me time."

I think that you will find a place to "work" your collection here among friends in the forums.

 

Hi everybody, thanks for the comments and suggestions!

The pictures from the cat with the bonsai are beautiful! Weird, bonsais were one of my hobbies in the past, the same with photography. (I did quite a lot of underwater pictures with analog cameras.) In the last years I was too focus on chess, so I neglected most other activities in my life (beside tennis, which I play almost every day). I will stop playing and studying chess during hours to have the time for other things. I will find my camera, choose my first set and begin making pictures. Baby steps.

@brasileirosim Good luck with your project. It would be great if you could make a video like the one about David de Lucia's collection. https://www.chess.com/forum/view/chess-equipment/david-de-lucia-chess-collection.

@Powderdigit That photo is cool. I don't suppose that is your cat?

The best way to share your passion is to dig them out of the basement and to post some pictures in a forum. Better yet, do what RussBell and batgirl did and create Blog posts. Here are some examples of their blogs:

https://www.chess.com/article/view/mementos-of-morphy

https://www.chess.com/blog/RussBell/chess-sets-for-club-tournament-play