A magnificent and rare large-scale travel chess compendium by the prestigious London department store Peter Robinson. Dating to the late 19th century, this set is a masterpiece of Victorian leisure design. The folding mahogany case opens to a 27.5cm playing surface, beautifully inlaid with boxwood and rosewood squares. This set would have been the ultimate luxury gift for a traveler in the 1890s.
 
The set features a complete compliment of 32 hand-turned bone pieces in the Staunton pattern, finished in natural and madder red. Each piece is equipped with a secure peg-fitting, designed for play during transit. The interior retains its original retail plaque for the "Peter Robinson Games Department London." A truly exceptional, collector-grade set that combines high-street prestige with superb craftsmanship.
Peter Robinson was a famous department store located at Oxford Circus in London founded in 1833 as a drapery, by the late Victorian era it had expanded into a massive department store comparable to Harrods or Selfridges. In the late 19th century, luxury department stores had dedicated "Games Departments" that sold high-end leisure goods to the upper-middle class. The plaque on this set is a prestigious retail mark, essentially serving as a "seal of quality" from one of London's top shopping destinations.
 
Condition Report:
Excellent antique condition. The set is 100% complete with all 32 bone pieces and pegs present. The mahogany case shows a rich, deep patina with no warping. Hinges and brass clasps are original and functional. Minor age-authentic wear to the stained pieces, adding to its character. The is a small chip to one corner of the fold over flap and one of the brass closure clips is a handmade replacement.
 
The case measures 60 x 30 x 3.4cm when open, closing to 30 x 15 x 7.5cm, the chessboard squares each 3cm square.