Postal Chess Sets - 2008/01/26 04:43In the "old days" --before e-mail chess -- I used to see postal "sets", i.e. books of slotted sets with cardboard pieces so that you could keep the position and score of several games at once. Does anyone know where I can purchase such an item nowadays ??
Postal Chess Sets - 2008/01/26 14:56Hi Eddmondd, welcome here I have never heard of those. Do you have a photo (off the internet) so that I know what you mean?
Re:Postal Chess Sets - 2008/01/27 05:46That's just the problem, Dame, I can't even find pictures of them, anymore. There aren't even many slotted chess sets around. I recently purchased a Passport Travel Chess Set from USCF (I've attached an image ) which gives you an idea of the kind of thing I'm talking about -- now imagine a book of slotted sets made out of cardboard... I'm getting old (even though I look yound, I'm 54) but my memory is still intact (although, if Shotgun hadn't mentioned that he'd seen them, I would begin to doubt my memory). I think I'll follow his suggestion and check out ebay.
Re:Postal Chess Sets - 2008/01/27 08:59Thank you for explaining this Eddmondd. I had a look around internet and found the following. It seems to fit the description. Unfortunately I cannot find out what the date is of that ad, but perhaps it's worth inquiring?
Re:Postal Chess Sets - 2008/01/28 01:36Now that I know what I'm looking for ("Postal Chess Recorder Album "), thanks to Dame, I was able to google and find a website that sells them new! : http://www.skakhuset.com/products.asp?id=122
I've attached an image.
This seems to be a pretty good site for some travel chess sets and rare chess books. I believe the store is in Denmark.
Re:Postal Chess Sets - 2008/02/07 21:38Just As a follow-up: I actually found a picture of the "used" Postal Chess Recorder album selling on an antique book site (this Ad has appeared on numerous sites, but this is the only one that has a picture:
Postal Chess Recorder Album by Anonymous
Chess Review. [1960]. (Spiral bound paperback) . . .Very good. . . . . . . Includes 6 complete cardboard chess boards and pieces. The boards, which are postcard sized, contain little slots in which the cardboard chess pieces are inserted. Of the 6 sets, one pawn is missing. A previous owner has put his name on the cover. Comes in a box, which is worn and torn. < - Buy with confidence. We've been selling quality collectible books since 1965. - >.
Ordering information $30.00 "Annoymous" has not been able to get any buyers it seems. $30.00 is a little over-priced (well, maybe not, as a collectible). I've ordered one of the Postal Chess Recorder Albums" from the Danish company I mentioned before. For $23.00 and $20.00 shipping, the Album has 12 sets with plastic pieces (the 14 set album, that's shown on their site is no longer available). They say I should receive it in about 2 weeks (I live in Beachwood, New Jersey USA).
Re:Postal Chess Sets - 2008/02/08 03:24I just got my Postal Chess Recorder Album in the mail today (so it didn't take 2 weeks,-- more like 1 week)! As advertised, it has twelve boards with twelve sets of plastic pieces. The plastic pieces actually find in my Passport Travel Chess Set, which is an added bonus! My only caveat is that the Album doesn't include scoresheets, but I guess it easy enough to attach scoresheets to the back of each board. Oh, the company is Swedish, not Danish as I first thought. With all the sets "installed", the album is a bit bulky, but all in all, I'm happy with my purchase.
Greetings from the rice fields of northern Thailand.
I can remember using Postal Chess Recorder Albums when I was in Vietnam. I had two I took everywhere. On and off for the past year I have been trying to find them again with no luck. Many thanks for your query and to Dame for her great investigative skills. Since these great chess tools are no longer available, I am going to order the book of boards you found.
One question: you mention that with pieces in place the book is somewhat bulky. Since it is spiral bound, would it not be possible to take it to a place like Kinko's and have a larger spiral installed? That way the covers will lay flat even if the book is a bit thick.
Re:Postal Chess Sets - 2008/02/10 16:11Hey Glenn, welcome to the forum I am happy you joined us. Are you an online chessplayer as well? Hopefully you will our "play chess online' section to your liking
Re:Postal Chess Sets - 2008/02/10 21:23Hi Glenn, Welcome to the forum. I've actually decided to remove the boards from the spiral and put them in a small loose-leaf binder. This way I can keep scoresheets easily with the boards and include notes, analysis, etc.., also. $20.00 for shipping is somewhat steep, but the company is in Sweden, and nobody else seems to make these things (supply and demand ). Anyway, I might make a trip to one of the local craft stores here and try my hand at making an album (One of my hobbies, besides collecting chess sets, is making custom travel sets).
Re:Postal Chess Sets - 2008/02/11 09:05Eddmond, hi -
Great idea! Please post a photo of the finished product.
Strangely enough, Thailand is not on the list of countries skakhuset ships to - can't imagine what the problem is - so will have to go the route of having the postal log sent to friends in UK who will remail it. The joys of living abroad!
Re:Postal Chess Sets - 2008/02/13 07:41The problem is that one has to choose from their short list of countries, a list which does not include Thailand - or most countries, for that matter. There is no option on their website to enter other countries. I even sent them an email asking what the best way to order would be and received no response. I think I'll give this outfit a miss. But thanks for the suggestion.
Re:Postal Chess Sets - 2008/02/13 08:05Ah, that's such a pity. Perhaps family or friends in Europe or the States can help out by having it sent through them?
post new topic
I have never heard of those. Do you have a photo (off the internet) so that I know what you mean? 
