B & Co Staunton set c1880

My second B & Co, having let my first one go to a fellow collector.

This one is slightly larger than my first, and has subtle stylistic differences.  The stems are thinner, I think, the rooks are incredible, and the bishops heads also differ from my first set.  I have included a photo comparison of the two sets - which came first I do not know!

The pieces unscrew from their bases - I always wonder if I might find a secret message or maker's mark once unscrewed...and in this case I did find four little pieces of paper!  My heart leapt.  Had I found a note from the maker?  Was their identiy to be revealed?  Sadly, not.  But a sequence of four small newspaper clippings with writing on...by a child in 1964 (as photographed).  Why they chose to hide these little messages, I will probably never know! Ah well, not the carver, but a surprise none the less.