"chess set", "chess sets", "chess pieces", "chess museum", "schaak"
 

Symbols & figurines

Of course I cannot give a complete overview. That will be difficult as the variety is huge. Below several examples from different countries and eras. Alphabetically on type and then oldest first...

In pre computer era these albums were in use by correspondence players for storing positions. The plug in pieces can exist of equally formed plates with symbols or figurines formed according their meaning. The Rajah Serieskak is most likely Danish. Some say it is German and I thought that a long time, but after seen a wooden chess set called "Rajah-Skak" from Denmark, I assume the albums are originally from Denmark.

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  • USA, by Chess Review in New York
  • ca. 1955
  • Cardboard pieces 2.2×1.2
  • Album 19.5×14.7×2.3

You can keep 6 games in it

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  • Denmark, "Rajah Serieskak" (symbols)
  • Mid to late 20th century
  • Plastic pieces 2.1×1.2
  • Album 19.6×12.5×2.7

You can keep 12 games in it

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  • Denmark, "Rajah Serieskak" (figurines)
  • Mid to late 20th century
  • Plastic pieces K 2.4×1.1; p 2.1×1.1
  • Album 19.6×12.5×2.3

You can keep 8 games in it

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  • Denmark, "Rajah" (figurines)
  • Mid to late 20th century
  • Plastic pieces 2.1×1.1
  • Album 19.6×12.5×2.0

You can keep 9 games in it (pieces for only 4+)

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  • Germany, "Schach-archiv"
  • Mid to late 20th century
  • Plastic pieces K 2.2×1.0; p 2.0×1.0
  • Album 23.7×17.8×3.8

You can keep 7 games in it, but it is flexible


Symbols are used in sets that are composed of discs on which the symbol is printed or, also often, is cut out. Chinese disc sets can be very high standard and beautifully carved. Chinese disc sets for normal use, including those to play XiangQi, are mostly not that elaborate. Well known are pocket sets like "Schach im Felde" or the "Feldpost" sets and alike, who all have discs, of cardboard or wood, with symbols printed on or cut out. Bakelite disc sets with cut out symbols are also well known. Finally, wallboards with magnetic discs having representative icons, not for normal play but for decoration or as demonstration board. There are also wallets with disks, see Wallets page and stud sets with disks, see Stud-sets page.

This Chinese disc set is exceptionally well carved.

Does anyone has the missing bishop ?

  • China, "Disc set"
  • 19th century
  • Ivory Ø 4.0 and 1.0 high

 
Sets below are all of WW1 period. “Schach im Felde” may have been given to soldiers. I have it in 3 variants. One variant has a Halma game and another has softboard discs. “Dame-Muhle-Schach” is a common combination. This example is very similar to the "Schach im Felde". All sets have wooden discs with a cut-out symbol, except the one with softboard discs having a printed symbol on an attached paper.

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  • Germany, "Schach im Felde"
  • 1914
  • Beech pieces Ø 2.4 and 0.7 high
  • Box 10.8×10.8×2.3
  • Cardboard board 20.0×20.0

Variant 1/3
On the back of the box it says "M. Voigt" and "8 K O.J.R. 91". The latter means 8th Kompagnie, Oldenburger Infantry Regiment No. 91. M. Voigt was not in the history book of this regiment. He will have survived the war.

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  • Germany, "Schach im Felde"
  • 1914
  • Beech pieces Ø 2.4 and 0.7 high
  • Box 15.4×10.8×3.2
  • Cardboard board 20.1×20.1

Variant 2/3
This one has a "Halma" game with own board as well. There is a Traumaplast advert inside the lid. There exist also a "Halma" only version, but I do not have that.

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  • Germany, "Schach im Felde"
  • 1914
  • Softboard pieces Ø 2.5 and 0.7 high
  • Box 11.1×11.1×2.7
  • Cardboard board 19.9×20.1

Variant 3/3
This one bought in Austria and looks like a cheaper variant (although box is exactly same as variant 1).
Note that the manual is different from version 1 as well.

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  • Germany
  • ca. 1914
  • Beech pieces Ø 2.5 and 0.7 high
  • Box 14.6×10.9×2.4
  • Cardboard board 19.7×19.7

"Schach im Felde" alike

 

Set called "Tobis". This time the discs are square with cut corners. The elongated box has a wrapper explaining which chess pieces the different drawings represent. It also contains all kinds of other text such as sizes and price. In "Tijdschrift van den Nederlandschen Schaakbond", jrg 44, 1936, no 3, 01-03-1936 is an article about the game that shows that it was intended to be sold as study material to schools and clubs. It also explains that the images are made as on playing cards, readable from both sides. However, this does not apply to the pawns. It is an interesting piece of chess history in the Netherlands in the period that there was a kind of hype after Euwe became world champion. Very rare item.

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  • Netherlands, Nederlandse Schaakschijvenfabriek, Hilversum, "Tobis"
  • 1936
  • Cardboard pieces 3.4×3.4×0.3
  • Box 16.8×8.8×1.7
  • Paper board 45×45 cm (as stated on box)

 

An interesting pocket set called "Play kit" with small pieces with symbols.

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  • USA, "Play Kit"
  • ca. 1940
  • Plastic pieces Ø 1.5 and 0.3 high
  • Genuine leather case ca 13.8×10.3×3.6
  • Board 17.2×17.2

 
Following sets are all cardboard disc sets from the WW2 period in Germany. "Feldpost" could be send to the soldiers at the front. From the latter I have a set of 15 pieces which belonged to Mr. van der Hoeven from my town, who used it during WWII in the concentration camp of Regensburg. See last picture in the gallery.

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  • Germany, "Feldpost"
  • ca. 1942
  • Cardboard pieces Ø 2.5
  • Box 23.3×12.4×1.9
  • Cardboard board 22.5×22.7
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  • Germany, "Schach= Dame= u. Mühle= Spiel"
  • ca. 1940
  • Cardboard pieces Ø 2.5
  • Box 24.1×12.3×1.8
  • Cardboard board 22.6×22.6
  • The pieces are of an "Feldpost" set!
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  • Germany?
  • ca. 1942 or older?
  • Cardboard pieces Ø 1.9
  • Box 18.2×9.6×1.4
  • Cardboard board 16.7×16.7
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  • Germany, "Schach- Dame und Mühle"
  • ca. 1942
  • Cardboard pieces Ø 2.6
  • Box 24.1×12.7×1.4
  • Cardboard board 23.0×23.0
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  • Germany, "Schach- Dame und Mühle"
  • ca. 1940
  • Cardboard pieces Ø 2.5
  • Box 24.2×12.2×1.4
  • Cardboard board 22.5×22.7

 
Below 2 examples of Bakelite disc sets. The right is called the "Services" set and was given to English soldiers in WW2. They were made by Chad Valley and I have seen these sets in 1 or 2 other boxes as well.

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  • England
  • ca. 1940
  • Bakelite pieces Ø 3.0
  • Box 14.7×7.5×4.7
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  • England
  • ca. 1940
  • Bakelite pieces Ø 3.0
  • Box 14.7×7.8×4.6

 
The set in CD box is more a curiosity and not that handy to play with, because it is so small. There is a whole series of different games made in a CD box.

  • Netherlands, by Epini
  • 1980
  • CD boxes with chess set pieces Ø 1.0
  • Box/board 14.1×12.5×1.0
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  • Netherlands, Reader's Digest
  • 1990
  • CD boxes with chess set pieces Ø 1.2 and 0.4 thick
  • Box/board 14.1×12.5×1.0
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  • Netherlands, AD compact magneetspel
  • 1994
  • CD boxes with chess set pieces Ø 1.2 and 0.4 thick
  • Box/board 14.1×12.5×1.0

Some modern Chinese and Vietnamese disc sets for International chess (this is our normal chess) and Chinese chess (XiangQi). The pieces of 2nd set can be used for both, on either side.

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  • China
  • 1979
  • Birch pieces Ø 3.0; 1.2 high
  • Cardboard box 12.9×12.9×2.7
  • Paper board 31.9×26.9
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  • China
  • 1981
  • Wood pieces Ø 2.5; 0.9 high
  • Cardboard box 10.9×10.9×2.8
  • Paper board for chess and one for XiangQi
  • China, "XiangQi" (chinese chess)
  • 2003
  • Lime pieces Ø 3.3 and 1.3 high
  • Box/board 34.3×19.9×2.1
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  • Vietnam, "XiangQi" (chinese chess)
  • 2015
  • Wood? pieces Ø 3.3 and 1.3 high
  • Box 14.2×14.2×2.7
  • Board 33.0×36.5
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  • Vietnam, "XiangQi" (chinese chess)
  • 2015
  • Plastic pieces Ø 2.8 and 1.0 high
  • Box/board 32.8×18.5×1.9

 
Two wallboards having magnetic discs with representative icons. Both from the same magnets factory in the Netherlands.

  • Netherlands, by BM magneten, a Dutch factory making magnets
  • 1993
  • Plastic with magnets pieces Ø 3.0
  • Black board with plastic frame 51.1×41.0×2.3
  • Netherlands, by BM magneten, a Dutch factory making magnets
  • 1993
  • Plastic with magnets pieces Ø 3.0
  • White board with aluminium frame 51.1×41.0×2.3


Here are 2 "Stud" sets. The left one is from De La Rue and the right one from a USA source (I believe).

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  • England, by De La Rue
  • ca. 1910
  • Bone pieces Ø 1.4
  • Box 22.7×11.5×2.6
  • Board 15.5×15.5 (inside border)

On the clasp "TDLR" ("Thomas De La Rue")
I have also seen: "TdLR". There are also sets known with "DLRLd" on the clasp. In 1958 the company dropped Thomas in their name. Question is whether these sets could have been made after 1958 as well ?

J. C. Vickery, luxury retailers of Regent Street, London did sell such travel sets, but this one doesn't bear their name.

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  • USA
  • ca. 1910
  • Enamelled brass pieces Ø 1.4
  • Box 22.9×11.6×2.6
  • Board 15.5×16.0 (inside border)

Wallets are typically sets with either equally formed plates or discs with symbols, or figurines which are formed according the different chess pieces. Often these wallets have plug in pieces and are not that suitable for play, but more meant to store a position of interest. Or more than 1 position, as in the harmonica wallets. Some wallets do have magnetic discs and are meant and suitable for play. The Y.M.C.A. set is a non magnetic disc set to play with. Occasionally you see figurines that must vertically be put in a raised board, which is also suitable for play. Wallets appear also as advertisement stuff or to serve as chess set to support radio lessons. I suppose it was not convenient to follow the lessons with the latter.

De La Rue pocket chess set exists in different versions. Here you see 2 of them (these are not the oldest version). Note that I do have only the board of the type that's showed top right at the overview picture. Pieces of this type are different from the other in the sense that there are no checker figures on the pieces. The chess figures are slightly different as well.

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  • England, by De La Rue (in 2 different designs)
  • Mid 19th century
  • Cardboard pieces 3.0×1.0
  • Map 15.4×10.1×0.9

The front and back and also the edges are designed by Owen Jones, author of "The Ornament or Grammar".

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  • England, by De La Rue
  • Mid 19th century
  • Cardboard pieces 3.0×1.0
  • Wallet 15.0×9.7×0.8

Most of the wallets below are early 1900. Some are in bad condition, but it shows that they were actually used!

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(incomplete)

  • Germany
  • ca. 1905
  • Celluloid pieces 2.0×0.9
  • Wallet 13.3×8.7×0.5
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  • Germany
  • ca. 1905
  • Celluloid pieces 2.0×0.9
  • Wallet 13.3×8.7×0.5
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  • Germany
  • ca. 1910
  • Celluloid pieces 2.1×1.0
  • Wallet 13.2×8.7×0.5
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  • Germany
  • ca. 1910
  • Celluloid pieces 2.2×1.0
  • Wallet 13.3×8.9×0.8
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  • Germany
  • ca. 1910
  • Celluloid pieces 2.1×1.0
  • Board 17.2×13.3
  • Map 14.7×10.9×0.7
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  • Germany
  • ca. 1910
  • Celluloid pieces 2.1×1.0
  • Wallet 13.7×9.6×2.0

No Images found.

  • England
  • 1st half 20th century
  • Celluloid pieces 2.2×1.0
  • Wallet 13.3×8.9×0.6
  • Belgium
  • Mid 20th century
  • Plastic or celluloid? pieces 2.8×1.3
  • Map16.7×11.2×0.6
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  • Germany
  • 20th century
  • Plastic pieces 2.1×1.0
  • Board 18.2×13.5
  • Map 14.9×9.8×0.5

These wallets were part of a series of radio lessons, called "Op College bij Dr. Euwe", in 1936. The lessons were accompanied with 4-page pamphlets. I believe these were collected in a book in 1938.

Does anyone has the missing pamflets/book ?

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  • Netherlands, by AVRO
  • 1936
  • Cardboard pieces 2.1×1.1
  • Wallet 15.6×11.1×0.2

The pictures showing the pamflets of the radiolessons are copied from internet.

This is an interesting Y.M.C.A. chess set for WWII.  In gold on front we see Y.M.C.A. logo with texts: "CANADIAN", "SPIRIT MIND BODY" and "OVERSEAS" with under that "CANADIAN Y.M.C.A. OVERSEAS", a line and "POCKET CHESS AND CHECKER SET". On the other side, in black, de texts: "SERVING CANADIAN SAILORS, SOLDIERS & AIRMEN", "CANADIAN Y.M.C.A. CLUBS IN LONDON", "LEINSTER GARDENS W.2", "QUEEN'S GARDENS W.2", "LEXXAM GARDENS W.8", "Also associated with the CANADIAN Y.M.C.A.", "THE BEAVER CLUB TRAFALGAR SQUARE", "ALSO IN THE FIELD", "SPORTS", "RECREATION CENTRES", "CANTEENS", "TEA CARS", "ENTERTAINMENTS", "PERSONAL SERVICE" and under the line "CONSULT YOUR Y.M.C.A. SUPERVISOR" followed by another Canadian overseas logo with known texts. The set, actually, is suitable to play but you have hold the board down and handle discs carefully, otherwise you risk to ruin your position!

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  • Canada, Y.M.C.A. Overseas, Pocket Chess And Checker Set
  • ca. 1942
  • Cardboard pieces Ø 1.75
  • Board 17.6×17.6
  • Map 18.5×10.2×0.7

And a Czech wallet with figurines.

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  • Czech
  • Mid 20th century
  • Paper pieces K 2.3×1.1; p 2.1×0.9
  • Wallet 16.7×10.7×0.3

Under the Board, in German: "Ges. Gesch. " (=Gesetzlich Geschuetzt) and Czech: "Zakonem chraneno", which also means protected by law. It is made by A. Nemas, from Zlin (Czech Republic). On the back is the logo and "REG 11869".

April 2022 I got information (in a reply on the site) that this plastic wallet is Czech from period 1970's-1980's.

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  • Czech
  • 1970's-1980's
  • Plastic pieces 2.0×1.1
  • Wallet 17.5×11.4×0.7

This wallet is is from Moldova (which was explained to me April 2022 in a reply on the site). The logo on the front says "Кишинёв" (Chișinău, also known as Kishinev, the capital of Moldova). On backside the texts: "АРТИКУЛ МОЛД-24" (Article model-24) and "ЦЕНА 95 КОП" (Price 95 kopecks).

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  • Moldova
  • 1970's-1980's
  • Plastic pieces 2.0×1.2
  • Wallet 14.2×9.9×0.6

Another very rare and interesting chess set with figurines is this folding wallet that, when opened, unfolds a board that raises up having the inserted pieces stand up. They are easy to handle that way. So it is possible to play with it, but the wallet itself tends very strongly to close itself, probably because it has never been used to play with before. On the side of the board we see "Ges. Geschützt Nr.485187." and "M. Herzberg, Königsberg i. Pr." (see last picture).

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  • Germany, Königsberg i. Pr., M.Herzberg
  • Mid 20th century?
  • Plastic pieces K 4.1×1.3; p 3.1×1.1
  • Board 15.5×15.5
  • Wallet 18.9×10.7×0.8

Just some advertising stuff. With a few miniatures that Adorjan had won with black!

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  • Hungary, Budapest
  • 1980
  • Promotion material; pieces plastic Ø 1.6
  • Board 20.6×15.8

These plastic and magnetic wallet/pocket sets can be used for play indeed. Personally I find it somewhat cumbersome. The 3 wallets have commercial intentions.

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  • USA, by U.S. Chess Federation
  • Late 20th century
  • Plastic pieces Ø 1.5
  • Wallet 16.7×17.2×0.9
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  • USA, Magnetic Chess, a magnetic pastime by Signal
  • Late 20th century
  • Plastic pieces 1.6×1.6
  • Wallet 20.5×13.6×0.8 (closed)
  • Netherlands
  • 1980
  • Plastic pieces Ø 1.6
  • Wallet 14.4×10.4×0.4