Ivory J JAQUES in weird box

Gentlemen - 

I have a J Jaques set in ivory, 4.5" kings, which is complete but not undamaged. I think one of the reasons it's sustained damage over the last 170 years is that it's in a really strange box which stores the pieces in both sides, but relies on a stuffed divider to keep them in place - and it doesn't do it very well. It's almost impossible to close or open the box without spilling ivory all over the table. The box has no markings at all, except for a rather generic veneer chess piece image inlaid in the top. The white queen has the green paper sticker on the bottom but it's illegible.  There are no other markings on anything (except of course the J JAQUES LONDON on the bottom of the white king).

Have any of you chess devotees seen such a box before? 

I am guessing here as I've never seen another one like it,  but the box looks original to me.
- it's got the key.
- that's the right kind of green stuff and it looks old
- the compartments seem very well sized to the pieces, and 4.5" pieces are NOT common for that age -> this is the biggest reason it seems right. 

Is it a good design? probably not. But it's a wicked rare set. Probably worth a good buck. I'd love to see more pictures without the black/white background - it's too distracting. 

I image that's gonna be expensive to restore. I noticed more than a few busted pieces.

regardless of their being very valuable in some sense, the price of ivory sets has dropped a lot in the last few years.  Its not just in the US, but everywhere, that trading ivory has become very difficult. 

Thank you, as there's some interest I'll take some more pictures; could take me a couple of days.

As for the set, I've had it for about thirty years. It was given to me by a member of one of the Boston Brahmin families after a relative died, leaving her Cambridge house to Harvard U and the house contents to her relatives. The crack in the base of the king appeared while it was sitting on a shelf in my study; I have no idea what caused it. The other parts were already damaged. Some have antique repairs which didn't work too well.

In any event I've reached that age at which it seems sensible to help most of my many collections move on to new homes.

how much are you asking?

Did this set sell?

it might have been before the ban, with a box.

I would imagine so. There's a surprising amount of it still around. I know a guy with a set of ivory dominoes. We played hundreds of games with them and I'm sure he still has them. Smooth as butter.

That's an incredible set, rantbot. Even if that is the original coffer, I wouldn't use it. Those pawns probably lost their heads due to falling out when you open it like you said. Too risky...

the last set I saw sold in Australia went for $2k, not $20k.  

good point, no.  

I doubt it would go for 20k or even half that but you never know at auction.

Yeah exactly. It can get complicated. I went through this once. Finally I called Frank and quickly learned it was like walking through a minefield legally and financially. 

This is what I thought. Some states like California, Hawaii, New York ban the sale of ivory period. Most don't though as long as you can prove that it's antique and therefor no threat to elephants or walrus today. Antique dealers and estate agents sell ivory jewelry etc. every day of the week that's not illegal. Bringing it into the country is a whole different matter, but as the OP can easily prove this is antique ivory there shouldn't be a problem as long as his state allows it.

Jaques of London hasn't made these since long before the ban. It's clearly one of their sets, so?

edited to add that I couldn't possibly afford that set. Just sayin'

Mac, it sounds like you're gun shy from dealing with customs agents. (and rightfully so) But there are no customs agents at estate sales. What's already here is a far cry from trying to bring something into the country. I too, am sorry for your lost sets and you may very well live in a state where the sale of ivory is banned  period, but it happens legally more than you may imagine.