John Calvert set, 3.3", circa 1815

I was absolutely thrilled to acquire this set made by John Calvert*, circa 1815.  Made from boxwood and rosewood, with 3.3" kings. Thrilled because a stamped bona fide no-doubt-about-it Calvert set had thus far eluded me. Well, when I say "eluded" me, it wasn't that sets had slipped through my fingers.  I had just never seen one for sale in my collecting journey.  Of course, I had seen them in the great collections of the world (notably Jon Crumiller's exceptional Calvert stable).  I had just never been close to one which could be mine. Ever. They aren't very common - and even less so to have both the box and pieces stamped "CALVERT 189 FLEET STT" (apologies, unfortunately Wix, my web provider, can't cope with superscripts, which that final T should be). 

Jon Crumiller has a near identical set, and was kind enough to tell me that this would likely fall firmly into the John Calvert period, hence "circa" 1815. It may be a little earlier or a little later.

"Never meet your heroes", so people say.  Well, it might be going too far to say a Calvert set is my hero, but whenever people have asked me "which one set would you like in your collection", I reply without hesitation - a stamped Calvert.

So it was with a little trepidation that I opened the box when it arrived.  The seller was outstanding, and had packed carefully as they promised (and were instructed - I find it never hurts to teach your grandmother to suck eggs when it comes to receiving chess sets through the post).  Inside the large outer box were three inner boxes, with pieces individually wrapped in generous quantities of bubble wrap.  The pieces had arrived intact.

In its 200+ year history, this set must have passed between many hands and through many different homes.  As I unwrapped the pieces, the set seemed to speak an ancient and worldy-wise "been here before" welcome to me, a hello to it's new steward for a time.  Many sets have arrived at my door - some meet expectations, whilst some fall short.  I have to say, this set is one of those which has exceeded all expectations.  It is sublime in its beauty and understated elegance.  To my eye, this set is Calvert at his best. Yes, it has a few knocks, but the knights have survived completely intact and unblemished. Sure, the box has been held together over the years with tape, screws and glue (but I like repairing boxes, and the screws came out the same day that the set arrived, cracks were stablised and the base reattached).  Would I prefer a perfect, no-chips-at-all set in an as-new box?  Would I heck.  This is just perfect.  200+ years is a long time. Welcome to the stable - and thank you, John Calvert.

*Much has been written about John Calvert and his wife, Dorothy, who took over the business after his death in 1822.  For my part, I include a snippet from the 1808 Post Office Directory for London, listing John Calvert as a turner and dealer in ivory, as well as some additional details, I think hitherto unreported, though I believe known: John Calvert was born in 1764 in Grinton, North Yorkshire to Solomon Calvert and Mary (Neé Anderson).  Mary, his mother, died when John was just eight years old, with his father died when John was 30.  John is buried at St Andrew by the Wardrobe with St Ann, Blackfriars, London. Dorothy Calvert (Neé Bradberry) was born in 1780, I believe in Kent.  Her father, David Bradberry was originally from Yorkshire, the same as John, and is recorded as a "dissenting Minister of Kennington Chapel (London)" . John and Dorothy were married on the 1st May 1806, at St Dunstan in the West, London - just three doors down from their home and business (see the picture of the street, as it would have looked in 1838-1840, from John Tallis's wonderful London Street Views (a mere169 years before Google street view got there).

So Cavlert's workshop had already been establish for 16 or so years before they married. Dorothy was long-time friend to Princess Sophia (daughter of George III and aunt of Queen Victoria), and John and Dorothy's son, Christopher Alderson Calvert, became counsel to Princess Sophia on his mother's death. John and Dorothy had six children.  One of them, John Calvert (junior!), was born in 1816, and went on to partner with his mother, trading as D Calvert & Son. Following his mother's death in 1840, John went on to found the choir of the Temple Church Choir - but I digress!  More information on John's musical exploits may be found on the Inner Temple's website.