British Chess Company boards and sets are scarce. Nice example of a British Chess Company Board, with stamps to either side of the frame/border. Chess squares are 5.8cm wide.

Recent research suggests that these sets were manufactured abroad (possibly Germany) and sold by the British Chess Company of Stroud, unstamped.

A typical antique English chess board of medium-size. Squares in sycamore and rosewood, within a raised mahogany border and a pine back panel.

Chess squares are 5.1cm wide.

Vintage wooden chess board or nice quality. Probably dating from the mid 20th century. Each chess square 5cm wide.

An unusual Shanghai mahjong set- in superb, unused, near-mint condition. Still in the original wax-paper wrappers and never been used. Recommended.

Fine antique Staunton chess set, with a 4.25 inch King. Identical in style to Jaques, and most probably carved by an ex Jaques craftsman, subsequently working for the rival firm of F. H. Ayres.

The classic English chess pattern. Used throughout the Victorian period as an alternative to the Staunton pattern (invented in 1849).

The “Edinburgh” or “Northern” Upright pattern is always popular with collectors and players. According to Howard Staunton the pattern was designed by Lord John Hay in the 1840s.

Interesting and unusual 19th century English chess pattern. Similar to the ‘Calvert' pattern, or perhaps, a variation on the 'St George' or 'Old English' patterns. The rosewood side features attractive stratifactions and patination. A lovely antique chess set. Recommended.

Nice example of a classic Victorian boxwood and ebony chess set. The ‘Calvert Pattern’ was one of the alternative patterns used in England during the 19th century, alongside the ‘St George’, the ‘Old English’ and the ‘Staunton’ patterns. The pattern is based on the work of John Calvert of 189, Fleet Street- the chess turner and maker of chess sets in wood and ivory, between 1791 and 1822.

Splendid Jaques board of Tournament size. The chess squares are 6.7cm wide. It dates from the Pre-War period (the Jaques factory and office, based in Hatton Garden, London, was destroyed in the Blitz in 1941). The board is mounted with ‘silver-coloured metal’ plaques. For the British Chess Correspondance Association (BCCA) Trophy: County Junior Chess Corresponance Championship, with further shields for the English counties of Warwickshire (1952), Lancashire (1955) and Sussex (1953).

Lovely vintage  English Staunton chess set, with a decent weight. Comes in the original mahogany box, with key.

Lovely Jaques set, with the desirable 4 inch king. Antique Jaques sets, within the last year or so, are becoming scarce. Sets with the 4 inch and 4.5 inch kings are especially saught after. This set features the Jaques Green Label (with coiled border) dating from 1915-20.

The English ‘Staunton’ pattern was designed in 1849. This set is, most likely, a late 19th century colonial variant, made for export to the United Kingdom. The useful box dates from the mid 20th century.

Reference: See Sir Alan Fersht: Jaques & British Chess Company Chess Sets, Kaissia Publications, figure 8 page 27 for an identical label dated to 1927, from a set used in the London Chess Congress.

Nice example of a 4.5 inch Jaques. Jaques sets are becoming increasingly hard to source.

Compact two-drawer version of the classic 1920s Shanghai Mahjong Set. The tiles are kept in one drawer.

Good, above average Mahjong set- typical of the Shanghai workshops. Good size. Nice, chunky bamboo and bone tiles of decent quality and shiny patination. A few minor hairline cracks and scuffs to box.

Nice example of the classic English ‘Barleycorn’ pattern, popular in the 19th centry. Especially nice larger size with the King coming in at just over 13cm. The box dates from the 1930s.

The Insurance Chess Club was founded in 1893.