Chess Collectors International was incorporated in 1984 for the study and
promulgation of the art and history of chess artifacts.
The first Biennial Convention was held in Florida in 1984. Subsequent four to five day
conventions have been held in London, 1986; Munich, 1988; New York, 1990; Paris, 1992; St.
Petersburg, Russia, 1994; Washington D.C., 1996; Vienna, Austria, 1998; Florence, Italy 2000;
Philadelphia, 2002 and Madrid, 2004. The next Biennial Convention is scheduled for Berlin
in 2006.
Conventions have included seminars and speakers on chess collecting; chess auctions; museum
exhibitions; displays of chess art, books and stamps, and the sale and trading of chess sets and
chess materials. Museums displaying their chess sets during our conventions have included
the Hermitage in St. Petersburg, Russia; New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art; The
Philadelphia Museum of Art; The Biblioteque National in Paris; The German National
Museum in Munich and London's British Museum and Victoria and Albert Museum.
Membership initially was for those who enjoyed the beauty, art and history of chess sets.
It now includes collectors of chess postage stamps as well as chess books, chess in art,
chess pins, documents and other memorabilia.
Some members are recognized for their playing expertise. Others know little of the moves,
but enjoy collecting chess in all forms. Some members have three or four chess sets.
Others have collected hundreds of sets. Some specialize in antique sets. Others prefer
sets designed by modern artists or local craftspeople.
A worldwide membership and mailing list numbers close to 2,000 people in 34 different
nations. Approximately ten percent of that number are located in the New York Metropolitan
area and about fifty percent of the membership is in the United States.
In local areas, members sometimes get together to display and discuss chess sets
and material. By telephone and letter, members keep one another informed of upcoming
sales and other pertinent information. A newsletter is currently published and plans
are being made for scholarships and prizes to encourage further study of the art and
history of the game of chess.
Dues are $50.00 per person, per calendar year. To become a member, send a check payable
to "Chess Collectors International", P. O. Box 166, Commack, NY 11725. Chess Collectors
International is a tax exempt corporation in the U.S.A.
