Jaques Staunton "Paulsen", uber-rare base stamped unfelted c1853

A potentially unique extant example of a very early Staunton set by Jaques. Dating to circa 1853, this set would have been a "second line" set, being unfelted and unweighted - and is likely to originally have come in the newly introduced slide top box (though potentially it may alternatively have been in a Carton Pierre casket).

The set is in remarkable condition, with just the occasional chip here or there. The bishops have pristine heads, and are of a form peculiar to this model. The stand out feature, which potentially makes this set unique in the world of Jaques, is that it has the "Jaques London" stamping to the white king on the *base*, rather than on the rim. Kings circa 3.3". Final photo is a comparison to a Paulsen knight.