Antique Victorian 1881 Oak Games Compendium

Fantastic example of a fine Victorian Games Compendium contained within a beautiful oak box, offering a multitude of classic games.

The lid of the box lifts to allow the front doors of the box to open. Contained within the Compendium is an excellent and complete carved wood chess set which is housed in the doors on individual spikes. There is a complete turned wood draughts / chequers set and a bone (cow/bovine) Domino set. There are 6 small dice in the top of the box and a cribbage board with 4 markers.

The top layer containing the draughts lifts out with two small brass loops. Below is a further layer with two complete packs of cards, two small spiral notebooks and a set of five cards. This layer has two leather tabs which allow it to be lifted out and this reveals the final layer which houses a set of six painted lead horses and jockeys. There are also two matching horse jump fences and a water jump. There are also more dice and cribbage markers, a small wooden gavel and some counters.

Housed in the top of the box is a folding Games board with leather surfaces and beautiful gold tooling and embossed detail. On one side is a chess / chequers board and there is a backgammon board on the other side. When it is further folded out flat there is another board like a race track for the horses. The set also comes with the original paper 'Guide to the Compendium of Games' which contains instructions on how to play the various games.

The box itself is made of oak with a brass escutcheon above the folding doors and a brass plaque engraved

"Charles H Haine. January 1st 1881". The box is excellent quality and has a lovely aged patina.

The whole set is in excellent condition. There are of course some signs of age and use but nothing major or detrimental. One hinge on the lid of the box has been repaired at some point but both are now good and strong. Internally the games are all in good condition. The board has some crease marks along the fold and has a piece of tape down the seam but it is generally sturdy and certainly usable. There is some minor damage to some of the lead horses - they are pliable and susceptible to breakages and a few are missing the tip of legs. Also the spinner on one of the small counter boards has come off.

A superb example of the finest quality antique games compendium. The best description comes from the photos so please look at them all carefully and if you have any questions please ask.