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1944 Soviet Relief Effort Airdropped CHECKERS CHESS POCKET SET Red Cross Russia
1944 Soviet Relief Effort Airdropped CHECKERS CHESS POCKET SET Red Cross Russia
1944 Soviet Relief Effort Airdropped CHECKERS CHESS POCKET SET Red Cross Russia
1944 Soviet Relief Effort Airdropped CHECKERS CHESS POCKET SET Red Cross Russia
1944 Soviet Relief Effort Airdropped CHECKERS CHESS POCKET SET Red Cross Russia
1944 Soviet Relief Effort Airdropped CHECKERS CHESS POCKET SET Red Cross Russia
1944 Soviet Relief Effort Airdropped CHECKERS CHESS POCKET SET Red Cross Russia
1944 Soviet Relief Effort Airdropped CHECKERS CHESS POCKET SET Red Cross Russia
1944 Soviet Relief Effort Airdropped CHECKERS CHESS POCKET SET Red Cross Russia
1944 Soviet Relief Effort Airdropped CHECKERS CHESS POCKET SET Red Cross Russia
1944 Soviet Relief Effort Airdropped CHECKERS CHESS POCKET SET Red Cross Russia
1944 Soviet Relief Effort Airdropped CHECKERS CHESS POCKET SET Red Cross Russia

1944 Soviet Relief Effort Airdropped CHECKERS CHESS POCKET SET Red Cross Russia

$ 132

Availability: 63 in stock
  • Country/Region of Manufacture: United States
  • Year: 1944
  • Recommended Age Range: 3 to 120
  • Color: Red & Black
  • Material: Paper
  • Brand: Russian War Relief
  • Condition: Never used, some storage wear on outer sleeve. Stored untouched for 7 decades in a bone-dry NYC apartment. Please all photos, which should be self-explanatory
  • Modified Item: No

    Description

    1940s
    Airdropped
    Russian War Effort CHECKERS CHESS SET intended for war-time Moral Support Stalin
    This listing is clearly another version of this item, which can be found online, where it currently resides at the
    World Chess Hall of Fame:
    "The American Red Cross Chess, Checkers, and TIC-TAC-TOE Pocket Set
    , c. 1944" (
    put in your browser to cross check with this listing)
    Board (unfolded): 8 x 8 in.
    Game pieces: 3⁄4 in. diameter
    Game Set
    Collection of the World Chess Hall of Fame, Gift of Margaret Martin
    During World War II, the Red Cross assisted prisoners of war (POWs) by checking the conditions of camps, sending aid parcels, and facilitating mail between POWs and their families. The Red Cross also provided compact and lightweight pocket sets like this for entertainment."
    This is in the World Chess Hall of Fame.
    Have a look, put it in the browser and see for yourself.  Similar to this listing, contemporary to it, and for the same purpose...except instead of for POWs, this set, I believe, was intended for the Russians themselves.  So this is what I know:
    During the war against the Nazis, the Soviets considered Chess playing to be a morale booster, and organized tournaments.  The United States, an ally of the Soviets against the Nazis, famously airdropped so much SPAM (real 'spam'...the canned pork) it became a cultural byword...but they also dropped THESE for the precise reason stated:  Moral Booster.  Food for the belly, and food for the Russian soul....Chess.  This is the story dad told me, and looking at this piece, it seems to match up pretty well...which make these worthy of ANY war museum anywhere (if I say so myself).  Please see my feedback.