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 ?
280 01
China, "Disc set" 19th century Ivory Ø 4.0 and 1.0 high
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.
105 01
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 of 3 different ones
105 02
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 of 3 different ones
105 03
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 of 3 different ones
105 H1
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 of 3 different ones
105 H2
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 of 3 different ones
105 H3
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 of 3 different ones
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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.
203 01
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 of 3 different ones
203 03
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 of 3 different ones
203 02
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 of 3 different ones
203 07
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 of 3 different ones
203 04
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 of 3 different ones
203 05
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 of 3 different ones
203 06
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 of 3 different ones
203 09
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 of 3 different ones
203 08
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 of 3 different ones
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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.
206 01
Germany, "Schach im Felde" 1914 Pressed paper pieces Ø 2.5 and 0.7 high Box 11.1×11.1×2.7 Cardboard board 19.9×20.1 Variant 3 of 3 different ones
206 02
Germany, "Schach im Felde" 1914 Pressed paper pieces Ø 2.5 and 0.7 high Box 11.1×11.1×2.7 Cardboard board 19.9×20.1 Variant 3 of 3 different ones
206 03
Germany, "Schach im Felde" 1914 Pressed paper pieces Ø 2.5 and 0.7 high Box 11.1×11.1×2.7 Cardboard board 19.9×20.1 Variant 3 of 3 different ones
206 04
Germany, "Schach im Felde" 1914 Pressed paper pieces Ø 2.5 and 0.7 high Box 11.1×11.1×2.7 Cardboard board 19.9×20.1 Variant 3 of 3 different ones
206 05
Germany, "Schach im Felde" 1914 Pressed paper pieces Ø 2.5 and 0.7 high Box 11.1×11.1×2.7 Cardboard board 19.9×20.1 Variant 3 of 3 different ones
206 06
Germany, "Schach im Felde" 1914 Pressed paper pieces Ø 2.5 and 0.7 high Box 11.1×11.1×2.7 Cardboard board 19.9×20.1 Variant 3 of 3 different ones
206 07
Germany, "Schach im Felde" 1914 Pressed paper pieces Ø 2.5 and 0.7 high Box 11.1×11.1×2.7 Cardboard board 19.9×20.1 Variant 3 of 3 different ones
206 H1
Germany, "Schach im Felde" 1914 Pressed paper pieces Ø 2.5 and 0.7 high Box 11.1×11.1×2.7 Cardboard board 19.9×20.1 Variant 3 of 3 different ones
206 H2
Germany, "Schach im Felde" 1914 Pressed paper pieces Ø 2.5 and 0.7 high Box 11.1×11.1×2.7 Cardboard board 19.9×20.1 Variant 3 of 3 different ones
206 H3
Germany, "Schach im Felde" 1914 Pressed paper pieces Ø 2.5 and 0.7 high Box 11.1×11.1×2.7 Cardboard board 19.9×20.1 Variant 3 of 3 different ones
206 H4
Germany, "Schach im Felde" 1914 Pressed paper pieces Ø 2.5 and 0.7 high Box 11.1×11.1×2.7 Cardboard board 19.9×20.1 Variant 3 of 3 different ones
206 H5
Germany, "Schach im Felde" 1914 Pressed paper pieces Ø 2.5 and 0.7 high Box 11.1×11.1×2.7 Cardboard board 19.9×20.1 Variant 3 of 3 different ones
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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.
397 01
Germany 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
397 04
Germany 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
397 03
Germany 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
397 02
Germany 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
397 05
Germany 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
397 06
Germany 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
397 07
Germany 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
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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.
552 01
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)
552 02
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)
552 03
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)
552 04
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)
552 05
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)
552 1936
Tijdschrift van den Nederlandschen Schaakbond jrg 44, 1936, no 3, 01-03-1936
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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.
281 01
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
281 c1
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
281 c2
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
281 c3
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
281 c4
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
281 c5
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
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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.
Germany, "Feldpost" pieces ca. 1942 Cardboard pieces Ø 2.5 These pieces have been used by Mr. van der Hoeven during WWII in concentration camp of Regensburg One pawn is missing as is board and box.
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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
594 01
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 Board and pieces are of an "Feldpost" set!
594 02
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 Board and pieces are of an "Feldpost" set!
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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!
382 01
Germany? ca. 1942 or older? Cardboard pieces Ø 1.9 Box 18.2×9.6×1.4 Cardboard board 16.7×16.7
382 02
Germany? ca. 1942 or older? Cardboard pieces Ø 1.9 Box 18.2×9.6×1.4 Cardboard board 16.7×16.7
382 03
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?
ca. 1942 or older?
Cardboard pieces Ø 1.9
Box 18.2×9.6×1.4
Cardboard board 16.7×16.7
160 01
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
160 04
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
160 02
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
160 03
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. 1942
Cardboard pieces Ø 2.6
Box 24.1×12.7×1.4
Cardboard board 23.0×23.0
595 01
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
595 02
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
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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.
130 01
England ca. 1940 Bakelite pieces Ø 3.0 Box 14.7×7.5×4.7
130 02
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 14.7×7.5×4.7
145 01
England ca. 1940 Bakelite pieces Ø 3.0 Box 14.7×7.8×4.6
145 02
England ca. 1940 Bakelite pieces Ø 3.0 Box 14.7×7.8×4.6
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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.
008 01
Netherlands, by Epini 1980 CD boxes with chess set pieces Ø 1.0 Box/board 14.1×12.5×1.0
Netherlands, by Epini
1980
CD boxes with chess set pieces Ø 1.0
Box/board 14.1×12.5×1.0
620 01
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
620 02
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, 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
614 01
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
614 02
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
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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.
060 02
China 1979 Birch pieces Ø 3.0; 1.2 high Cardboard box 12.9×12.9×2.7 Paper board 31.9×26.9
060 01
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
1979
Birch pieces Ø 3.0; 1.2 high
Cardboard box 12.9×12.9×2.7
Paper board 31.9×26.9
453 01
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
453 02
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
453 03
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
453 04
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
453 05
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
453 06
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
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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
108 01
China, "XiangQi" (chinese chess) 2003 Lime pieces Ø 3.3 and 1.3 high Box/board 34.3×19.9×2.1
China, "XiangQi" (chinese chess)
2003
Lime pieces Ø 3.3 and 1.3 high
Box/board 34.3×19.9×2.1
394 01
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
394 02
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
Wood? pieces Ø 3.3 and 1.3 high
Box 14.2×14.2×2.7
Board 33.0×36.5
395 02
Vietnam, "XiangQi" (chinese chess) 2015 Plastic pieces Ø 2.8 and 1.0 high Box/board 32.8×18.5×1.9
395 01
Vietnam, "XiangQi" (chinese chess) 2015 Plastic pieces Ø 2.8 and 1.0 high Box/board 32.8×18.5×1.9
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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.
199 01
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
Black board with plastic frame 51.1×41.0×2.3
199 02
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
Netherlands, by BM magneten, a Dutch factory making magnets