The Staunton chessmen were designed by Nat. Cook(e) about 1835 and registered in 1849 (Some sources give J.J.1 as the designer , as cook(e) was JJs brother in law and may only have been working on the firm as a gopher (source Colleen Shafroth, art in chess)).In 1852 the design protection ran out on their design ,prompting a rash of similar designs ,BCC and Hallets of high Holborn(who kindly date reg stamped each piece)Source the Oxford Companion To Chess page 327
However the take up of Staunton pattern sets was neither immediate or universal. The encyclopedia of Chess by Harry Golembek ,shows two pictures of the international tourney atTeplitz Schonau, CZ 1922 clearly showing regence sets in use ,(pages275 and 303 )My question is when was the last time non standard sets were used in competition and does this have any bearing on dates as assumed in ebay sales?
