Exotic chess sets from around the world will cross the block when Auction Gallery of the Palm Beaches hosts the CCI Auction May 1

Apr. 10, 2008

WEST PALM BEACH—In conjunction with Chess Collectors International’s 13th Biennial Convention in Boca Raton April 29 – May 4, Auction Gallery of the Palm Beaches will host the CCI Biennial Auction of chess sets, memorabilia and related ephemera from around the world May 1. To preview the auction catalog or place Internet bids, visit www.LiveAuctioneers.com.

This will be the first major chess set auction in the United States since the last CCI Convention in Philadelphia in 2002. This Convention and auction will be held in conjunction with the U.S. Seniors Open Chess Tournament to be held in Boca Raton. The sale will consist of more than 140 lots of antique and modern chess sets and related items consigned by members of CCI and members of the public. Consignment is open to the public as is the auction.

The inventory will include lots such as an 18th century Burmese carved figural set, an English 19th century turned ivory set, a 19th century English bone traveling set and an elaborate 18th/19th century French/German Dieppe style carved bone figural set with leather hats. Also included will be a Russian carved mammoth ivory “Knights” figural chess set by Russian sculptor Oleg Raikis, a J. Jaques boxwood and ebony tournament play set from Frank Marshall (U.S. Chess Champion from 1909 to 1936), an exotic Egyptian carved ivory “Pharaoh” figural set, a rare Dominican carved amber “Medieval” figural set, a German 19th century wood, plaster and lead “medieval” figural set and a 19th/20th century Chinese export carved ivory figural set.

The sale will be carried live online by LiveAuctioneers.com and Auction owner Brian Kogan says this may turn out to be one of the largest online chess related sales in history. To preview the fully illustrated auction catalog, log on to www.LiveAuctioneers.com.