Originally posted by WulebgrOh yeah, I didn't notice that Wholesale Chess (WC) uses the same pic for all three wood types. You're probably right, it's probably a pic of the Reykjavik II ebonized set.
Wholesale Chess has at least two different versions of the set listed at different prices, but they use one photo for both sets--the photo shows the ebonized black pieces, which cost less than the rosewood. I must say that I really like the looks of my rosewood pieces.
But it's still curious - The pic of the Reykjavik II ebonized set used on the HOS web site seems to be of a slightly different design than the pic on the WC site. (The HOS pic isn't a closeup of the pieces, but rather a wider shot of the pieces on a chess board.) The queens and bishops on the HOS pic seem to have narrower necks than the ones on the WC pic. And the rooks look a little different, too.
Oh well, I've got all the sets I'll need for the foreseeable future, so I guess I don't really care. 🙂
BTW, Wulebgr, when did you get your rosewood set? I got my HOS Reykjavik II rosewood set a couple of years ago, and its design is definitely a little different than the ebonized design shown on the WC site. (I definitely like the design of my set better.)
Originally posted by Mad RookThe differences between the photos is curious. I'd say that the photo on the HOS is a pretty accurate depiction of my set. The Wholesale Chess photo looks flattened a bit to fatten the necks, or they photographed a different set (perhaps a forgery)
BTW, Wulebgr, when did you get your rosewood set? I got my HOS Reykjavik II rosewood set a couple of years ago, and its design is definitely a little different than the ebonized design shown on the WC site. (I definitely like the design of my set better.)
I bought it a few years ago from the USCF. If you recall the transition from the old sales division to the USCFSales run by ChessCafe, you can date it (2004 I think). I ordered my set, it was placed on backorder, then canceled. After the transition to USCFSales, I ordered it again, and received prompt and efficient service.
For the first year or so my set did not leave the house. Now I take it to tournaments, but never blitz. I play blitz on one of my several cheap plastic sets ($5-$10). But for standard events I use my wood set, or my better plastic set that I bought during the backorder frustration: http://www.wholesalechess.com/chess/chess_pieces/Super+Staunton+Collector+Chess+Pieces+4inch
(I see the price has come down $10 since I bought it)
I saw a Capitalists vs. Communists set in the Encyclopedia Brittanica "chess" article many years ago, and for a time thought it would be nice to have a set. Around Y2K, I recall reading about the sale of such a set for something over $10,000, and my plans to acquire one more or less vanished. A price of $23,000 for one of these sets in 2003 was reported in the NYT in 2005 (http://www.nytimes.com/2005/11/25/arts/25anti.html).
Now I find this bargain--Christies is practically giving away the set: http://www.christies.com/LotFinder/lot_details.aspx?intObjectID=5045822
Originally posted by ZerokAnybody who gives 10 % off has at least a 20% markup. 🙂
HoS stuff is crazy, I was looking at it today. I bought Chessmaster XI and it came with a thing for 10% off anything from the site... the coupon's potentially worth like 1200 dollars, yeesh, freaking... woolly mammmoth ivory chess pieces... heh.