House of Staunton

Dear Shawn:

It is a pleasure for me to let you know that finally i have mi Zagreb 1959 chess set. I want to thank you because it is beautiful, much better than it appears en the photo in the House of Staunton site. I like that they are not too heavy and you can study very easy with them. The knight is wonderful too.

Thank you very much.

L R

Dear House of Staunton,

I would just like to thank you for my chess set! It arrived today and I'm very pleased with it. I've played numerous games with the set already! Thanks

D B

Just took delivery of the 4� St Petersburg chessmen and a tournament board, really well packed and delivered in perfect condition, thanks.

The set is beautifully made and finished, and feels great to play with, this side of a Jaques 1850 set (which I will add to the collection when my numbers come up in the lotto), I can�t imagine wanting anything else. Buying mail order and internationally I was worried that I might be disappointed with the set when it arrived, I shouldn�t have, the pieces are beyond my expectations and I will trust to your expertise next time I am looking for equipment.

Love the board too, it is the white birch tournament, looks great, great price, and with the rank and file markers it is perfect for learning new techniques

Thanks again, and best regards

Once again I've had the pleasure of dealing with you. I received my board the other day [2 days after I ordered] in great shape with your usual bulletproof packaging. I can't tell you how delighted I am. This was indeed a very special edition. I was most impressed when I realized that all of the squares both light and dark were rendered in matching veneers on each rank. I had previously received a beautiful ebony chess set that seemed too large for most boards. I'm happy to say that it's homeless no more as this 2.5" board makes for a beautiful combination.

Thanks again for your superior products and customer service.

G A

Dear Mr. Camaratta,

The ebony Library Collector set arrived last week and I wanted to let you know how happy I am with it. There's something very appealing about a smaller-than-tournament-size chess set, especially one crafted to such a high aesthetic standard. It's just beautiful. Thanks. And special thanks to Denise for putting up with me!

M M

I received the board and the chessmen today (08/20/07) everything arrived in good condition. I knew that these would be very nice but I must say that I was stunned when opening the package. Wonderful in every way, superb workmanship and now I can certainly say that nobody at the local chess club has a product similar to mine regarding quality, finish, and reputation! Well done!

M M

Hi Denise � I received the chess set I�d ordered yesterday in perfect condition. I am very happy with the quality of the set � unbelievable that such quality can be had for $24.95 in this day and age. Thanks so much for your help on my phone order � I�m telling all of my chess playing (and present-buying!) friends about your beautiful lines of products. Thanks again � sincerely��..

M B

Hi Denise,�

I�ve received the chessboard and am seriously delighted, I�d just like to thank you for all you efforts and my behalf especially turning this around before i went on holiday.�

You�re a gem (tell the lads to take good care of you).
Warmest regards

E P

Dear Mr. Camaratta,

Thank you very much, and I'm writing to complement the superb help that I received in choosing a chess set as a gift for my father from Shawn. His product knowledge, patience and helpful attitude -- combined with your user-friendly website -- made the sale. I know nearly nothing about chess, so I really needed a fair amount of guidance to choose the right set. Since my family has longstanding ties to Russia, I am confident that your St. Petersburg replica set will be a hit!

D R

Hi Shawn,

WOW! What a magnificently crafted chess set and what a wonderful 65th birthday present. This chess set, in Boxwood and Rosewood, is uncommonly beautiful. Each piece, including the pawns, is elegantly tapered...they look like Royal Families and their respective courts. The standouts of each group are the Knights!! The craftsmanship here is absolutely stunning.

I initially displayed the set on a green and buff roll up board.... WOW!!! The contrast was absolutely spectacular. All of the Rosewood pieces stood out marvelously. This set looks so professional, like a set that only GM's would have for use in tournament play, in its appearance and grander. Secondarily, I have an old Boxwood and Rosewood board that I set them up on.... Just pure magnificence .... Pure magnificence!!!

OH, I should mention that when I opened the box, each piece was enclosed in its own little ziplock bag, with the exception of the Queens, and Knights, which were also wrapped in a protective styrene like wrapper. All pieces were carefully, snugly, and alternatingly placed in the shipping box and that box and the regular chessmen box were placed in a larger shipping box with lots of shipping popcorn packed in with them. I have never seen such quality in shipping before.

Overall, I am overwhelmed and extremely satisfied with all aspects of this product ... especially the quality of craftsmanship. Your slogan," Why settle for less when you can own a legend," is definitely an absolute truism, especially in this day and time. I now own a Legend!

Thank you, House of Staunton, for doing such a marvelously wonderful job! And take note: "I will be back for another set of your outstandingly crafted chessmen."

Yours truly,

J K

Hi Shawn,

Yesterday was my son�s birthday. He was speechless when we presented the chess set to him. He was almost in a state of shock. He couldn�t believe we purchased such an ornamental set for him. Many thanks to Staunton�s for bring a very, very big smile to my sons face.

Regards

J R

Thanks again. I got the set today - BEAUTIFUL pieces. Very impressed with the quality, the packaging, the design and the weight.

I C

Good Morning Denise,

My wife and I ordered the Parthenon Chess Set with the four inch tall kings. After receiving an email that said the set would be on its way, your inspection revealed that some items were broken. You replaced the broken set with a better one.

You said that the Ebony set would arrive in five days. Because we were on vacation you instead arranged for it to arrive on the day we returned home. It did.

It's the most beautiful Chess Set we've ever owned. Like everyone who has seen it, the only thing I can say is WOW!

THANK YOU

D S

Good morning Shawn,

Just a quick note to let you know that I received my Capablanca set with the complimentary coffer yesterday, and it is beautiful. Thank you for your assistance in selecting this beautiful chess set. I am now anxiously awaiting my new chess board!!

Again, my thanks,

D B

Hi Shawn,

Just received the chess set. All in one piece; well packed.

Mate, it looks fantastic. My son is going to be over the moon when he receives this set for his birthday.

Many thanks

J R

Dear House of Staunton and Shawn,

The package arrived today, Thank you for quick correspondence. It was a splendid thing more than expected!

Kind Regards from Japan

K U

Mr. Camaratta,

It was a pleasure to see that House Of Staunton Rosewood Professional chess sets were chosen for use on the top boards at last weeks Canadian Open Tournament in Ottawa. Congratulations to you on the growing awareness and appreciation among tournament organizers for the elevated atmosphere of quality and seriousness that your beautiful sets lend to their events. May the trend continue!

S S

p.s. Your 'Timeless Collection' project looks exciting!

Dear House of Staunton,

The package arrived today...My wife would not let me look at all of it because my birthday isn't until August the 7th. She let me examine 3 pieces, the White King, the White Knight and the Black Queen. WOW !! What a marvelously beautiful Chess set. I can't wait until my birthday to see it all ... that Knight is carved very beautifully and the King and Queen have an elegant beauty about them, with their tapered waistlines to their bases.

At this point, I am extremely well pleased with the Susan Polgar set.

J K

Shawn,

The Andalucia chess table is everything we expected, just like the website promised. We particularly like the distinctive woods on the playing board. In fact, it was chosen over a table twice the cost simply because of the clarity between squares. We wanted a table that is really designed for play, yet high quality. This table delivers on all points. Our new chess pieces look and feel great as well!

It was very quick and easy to put together in under 5 minutes with no damage in freight.

UPS Freight called and arranged a time and were here within that time frame. That was a great blessing.

It is just so nice to have it in front of our fireplace and as the focal point of our room guaranteed to draw players. Not to worry, we will keep it distant from the heat.

Thank you again! We are happy!

C D

Dear Mr. Sullivan,

One hour ago the shipment arrived. All was well and the products are beautiful and as expected. Please accept my thanks for a correct deal.

Best regards,

W J

Seldom does a product meet or exceed my hope and expectation. Happily, the exceptional subject set (4.4'" Red and Natural Lacquered Collector) does, and is most pleasing in every respect. Thank you for your high standards and dedication to excellence.

G M

Hi Shawn,

I received the Collector 2 Chessmen today! WOW!!! Great stuff! :-) They definitively lived up to my expectations, even better. Thank you for quick delivery etc. This is Great!

Yours sincerely,
T I

Frank,

Thanks for getting the set out so quickly. The board and pieces look excellent (the pictures on your website don�t do them justice). I was very impressed with the overall quality and workmanship. When it comes to chess I will only be shopping at your business in the future.

Thanks!

T E

G'day Frank and all HOS staff,

My Nottingham chess set arrived today, and as usual i could not be happier. Another work of art from HOS. I now have 7 HOS sets, 5 from your premium range. If i don't have the best Ebony and boxwood Staunton collection in Australia, then whoever does must have one hell of collection. I think my HOS sets and my Jaques set must put me at the head of the list, A few more
HOS sets should cement my spot.

Will be adding a few more HOS before the year is out, especially with the AUD doing so well against the green back.

Thanks again for all your help and advice.

Hoping all is well in your part of the world,

Kind Regards from Australia

JT

"These are the most beautiful Sets and Boards I have EVER played on."
Grandmaster Walter Browne, 6 time United States Chess Champion commenting on the House of Staunton Nottingham 1924 Series Chessmen that are being used at the 2007 US Chess Championship.

Frank,

The Nottingham Chess set is BEAUTIFUL. This is an outstanding classic timeless design. Bravo. I was blown away when I saw the pictures.

K C

G'day Frank and all HOS staff,

My two sets arrived earlier this week, less than a 5 days from Purchase to delivery from America to Australia, someone is obviously on top of their game!! Very impressed again, not that i expected anything different!! The Morphy definitely stands out as the pick of the two, although the Parthenon is also a set of high quality. I am well on my way to having a complete set of HOS premium sets, and look forward to adding a couple more when the Nottingham is released.

The fitted coffers are all class, the workmanship is amazing, and they are a showpiece in themselves. Will have to purchase an additional one with my next transaction as i am possibly doing my sultan set an injustice by not having it housed in one of these. At the moment all my sets are in boxes under the stairs and look forward to the day when i can put them all on display.

The certificate of Registration that came with the Morphy set has a name other than my own on it. Is it possible to get a new one? ( not really a big deal just for your info) .

I look forward to hearing from you in regards to the Nottingham ( $100 deposit paid) and i will ultimately add at least one more set plus the coffer for my Sultan to the purchase. After several years of discussing it with you with each purchase a few boards for my sets are on my radar, but the pieces come first.

Hoping all is well in your part of the world,

Kind Regards from Australia

J T

Hi. The Chessmen are arrived Just now in perfect condition. They are absolutely Fantastic. Thank You very much for the perfect. Packaging and the super fast delivery.

Best Regards

L Z

Dear HOS:

I would like to take a moment to comment on the top-notch chessmen that were part of my last order. That would be the Library Collector set in Rosewood. At first, I had some feeling that the fine lines and proportions of your larger collector series would not translate well into the smaller version. But my concerns were allayed when I had time to inspect the set. It also occurred to me that it would actually be harder to produce the smaller version. At any rate, I fully appreciate the time and effort you took to individualize this set. Also, the board compliments the pieces and pawns well, and fits nicely on my rather narrow farmhouse table, with plenty of elbow-room left over. Thank you for the really top-notch chessmen. Best regards.

M S

Dear Shawn et all,

The order arrived yesterday in perfect condition based on your very careful packing. It's a wonderful set - everything I was expecting from House of Staunton. The board and clock look great as well.

Thank you for working so hard with me to get this completed as a single transaction to save on shipping.

J S

Dear HOS,

So often in the past, when I�ve ordered things by mail or over the internet, my expectation for the item far exceeded the reality of the item itself. Not so with the Collector II blood rosewood set and elm burl board that I recently received from you folks. The quality of these items was truly extraordinary. They far exceeded my expectations. Beautiful to look at, great feel. I just could not have been happier. Only one problem: now I know that the sets I�ve had for years are of such poor quality. Your pieces are all uniform in size and proportioned appropriately to each other, not to mention beautifully designed. My old sets have pawns of different heights, knights towering over rooks, etc. I can�t get satisfaction from using them any more. You�ve spoiled me. I�m just going to have to buy more sets from you guys. I�ve got my eye on the Morphy 4.0� set next. Keep up the good work!

W P

Dear Shawn,

As for the lacquered set...WOW! It is drop-dead gorgeous! Just sitting behind the board with those stunning pieces arrayed in front of me makes me feel like *I* am playing in the Zagreb 1959 Interzonal tournament. I might even be able to draw Fischer!

Please feel free to quote me in your advertising. The lacquered B/N Zagreb'59 is the most beautiful set of pieces I have ever owned. The detail is stunning, the heft is just right, and the finish is flawless. Thank you again for making this gorgeous set available at a price us club players can afford. You guys are the greatest!

T S

Frank,

I just received your deluxe chess bag and it really is well thought out and well made. I like being able to take my Professional lacquered chessmen to club night without fear of chipping them in a plain pouch. For what it's worth, my wife was impressed by the bag as well. Add marital bliss services to your list of products.

Cheers,
B L

Mr. Camaratta,

I just received my Rosewood Centurion set last night, and I'd have to say, that's its fabulous. For the price range, it is of superior quality. Actually, between this and my Ebony Library collectors set, I don't know which one to display.

T K

Frank,

Thank you, we received them today! They are stunning. I purchased them as a gift and have always wanted one for myself, so I will be planning to purchase some for me in the near future. The set arrived promptly and with extreme care. The quality
is outstanding and even nicer than I expected.

R C

Frank,

My wife and I have been playing chess for a long while. We both share a Celtic connection and an interest in world history. Considering our appreciation for chess, we resolved that the Isle of Lewis Chess set would be perfect for us.

I searched on the Internet to find a quality Isle of Lewis set. I was amazed to find that the premier vendor of quality chessmen, including the Isle of Lewis set, had their offices located within a few miles of my home. I visited the shop and witnessed the most exquisite selection of antique and current selection of chess pieces, boards, and chess tables available anywhere. I was amazed that this literal chess archive and museum was within a few miles of my home.

I have the greatest appreciation for the quality and selection available from the House of Staunton. The staff is experienced and well educated in the character and artistry of a fine set of chessmen. Their knowledge of the history of chess and the march of chessmen through history is both informative and authoritative. These people know chess.

It has been a delightful surprise to have discovered the House of Staunton within close proximity to my home. There is no doubt that I will find myself making the pleasant journey, only a county over, to select another relic for my collection. I would urge all true lovers of the classic game of chess to consider the House of Staunton for quality in every aspect of the game and its furnishings.

Sincerely,

E B

Frank,

Among the pop-corn packaging, boxes and pop-wrap galore strewn throughout the kitchen... with a glass of fine wine accompanied by a bit of string cheese I, while seated at the island counter, perpetuated a continual symphony of 'ewe's, 'ooooo's', 'aaaaah's' and 'wow's' to the repeated rolled eyed expressions from my wife as I unwrapped the Professional Boxwood & Ebony Prototype set just received from your firm. Thank you very, very much and ... keep smiling! Rick.

R V

Dear Shawn

You personally have taken customer service to a new level. My deepest appreciation for everything you have done. I don�t know how often I will be buying chess equipment or referring friends in need, but it will always be to the House of Staunton. If I can be helpful to you in any way please don�t hesitate to ask.

Best regards

V C

Hi Shawn,

I received the Sheffield Set yesterday. Very beautiful and and quite hefty! The knights are simply gorgeous. Also, I love the massive pawns. Perfect for breaking through for Kingside attacks!

C H

Dear Frank

Thank you very much, I got the shipment.

I have never seen such a beautiful pieces and quality of product and packaging is higher than expected. I would like to buy few more items from your store in near future.

Regards

J K

Dear Mr. Camaratta,

Yesterday I have received the Players chessmen. The unpacking of the chessmen was a real joy, I was like a small child that gets a present.

I am very impressed with the set and hope that I may enjoy it in a lot of nice games.

Thank you.

P S

Dear Mr. Camaratta,

Yesterday I have received the players chessmen. The unpacking op the chessmen was a real joy, I was like a small child that gets a present.

I am very impressed with the set and hope that I may enjoy it in a lot of nice games.

Thank you.

P S

I just received my Imperial Collector Ebony (with red fitted coffer) set last Friday - in time for my birthday yesterday. It is simply spectacular.

I liked it so much - I ordered the same set in Bud Rosewood as a heirloom for my two kids one day.

L P

Hi Frank,

I own several very fine chess sets from your line, as well as others from other companies. Of yours, I have a rosewood Zagreb 1959, an ebony renegade and a plastic collector series. My preference, from all my sets, is the renegade series. I believe that you were right on target with this production. The set is an absolute joy to play with. The balance and size of the pieces is great. I especially enjoy using this set for blitz matches.

J A

Dear Frank:

This e-mail is long overdue, so I apologize for its lateness. I ordered my first chess set from you back in 2003, and since that time I have ordered many more sets and chess boards for me and my friends. Of course, all of my business was done long distance via phone calls and e-mail since I lived in Texas and your business is in Toney, Alabama. What a thrill it was for me to get a job in Alabama, and what a bigger thrill it was for me to have the opportunity to drive up to Toney, Alabama and visit you, your staff, and get a personal tour of the warehouse facilities�very impressive. I respected the fact that you took time out of your hectic schedule to show me around and I have always appreciated the fact that you let me be one of the first people to get a shot at some of the experimental sets or one of the latest additions to the House of Staunton line of chess sets. I think you and your staff do a superb job�keep up the good work and thanks for what you have done for the world of chess.

D K

I received the Isle of Lewis Chess set. Wow! They are amazing. They exceeded
my expectations. We are sending them to our son who learned to play chess at
home but really played the game while in the Marines. He will love it.
Thanks. I couldn't find this chess set anywhere else. Thank you, again.

R G

To whom it may concern,

House of Staunton Is So Excellent To Work With! Not only do you sell / provide an excellent product - but your personal attention to service is among the very best.

Thank You.

J D

Dear Frank,

My Ebony Dunbarton chess set (#3) just arrived and it's simply stunning I can't describe how beautiful it truly is. The amount of time and effort that must go into those knights and to get them perfectly balanced with one another is mind blowing to think about it.

I'm so happy that I just purchased another set of the Dunbarton (#4) I'll be sure to let everyone know where to go to get there chess set in future.

N M

To everyone at House of Staunton,

My rosewood Reykjavik II set arrived today. At first, I was nervous. How could a set live up to my expectations? I mean, I've read so many of the testimonials on your website that my expectations were ridiculously high. After reading the testimonials, I was afraid I was setting myself up for a big letdown. It's not that I distrusted everyone's opinion. I just thought that some of the people must be exaggerating.

They were not. As such, I am offering up my own testimonial to your wonderful business.

To my delight, the set is everything I could have wanted and more. Unwrapping each piece, I could only marvel at how they are all flawless beauties, from pawn to king. They are a joy to see and a joy to touch. I think it is safe to say they will be a joy to play with, as well.

The mahogany framed tournament board is a really nice board and great value for the money. While I will eventually upgrade to something nicer, this board is a more than worthy battlefield for now.

From service to quality to price, you run a excellent business. The only thing else I could have wished for is that I would have ordered this set months or years ago, instead of hesitating and making do with inferior sets.

Thanks,

R G

p.s. - To anyone browsing the website, trust me when I say that the pictures really do not do the pieces justice.

Dear Mr. Camaratta:

Firstly, Happy New Year to everyone at H.O.S.. Christmas was great this year, but nothing compares to opening and unwrapping a House of Staunton chess set. Just received the red lacquer set via UPS (blisteringly fast shipping as usual), and, of course, it is gorgeous! To anyone thinking of purchasing a set from H.O.S., don't. Think too much, that is. Just buy it. These are the most beautiful sets around. My Tournament Ebony set now has a mate.

I am building a Wenge and Bird's Eye Maple board for the red lacquer set, and the combination will be outstanding. Thanks so much again for a superb set, and great attention to detail, including superb customer service and excellent packaging...

K A

I just rec'd the HOS Mechanics' Institute chess set in the mail and it is absolutely magnificent -- takes me right back to the MI of 35 years ago! It's been loads of fun using it to play over games. Frank deserves a medal for this!

Happy holidays and congratulations on the great success of this project,

C M

Thank you for all the help and encouragement, Denise. Every interaction and purchase I've had with "The House" has been nothing short of satisfying and tremendously friendly. I hope you all are around for a very long time -you're still one of the coolest ideas for a retail establishment that I've ever encountered (what I wouldn't have given to come up with the original idea for "The House". Frank's a genius!).

Have a great 2007.

T M

Hello Frank,

The Chess Set & Board have arrived and are in great condition. Thank you for packaging them so well. This was a gift for my daughter and she was delighted when she opened them. It has been a pleasure doing business with you.

K W

Frank,

Wow - what a design! Great job with the new Empire set - I love the art deco look.

M T

Hi Frank,

I just had to write again about my wonderful Ebonized Windsor II chessmen. The weight feels great and the pawns look super and are my favorites in the set. Each piece has a powerful board presence and I wanted you to know that I'm absolutely pleased and very grateful to you and your staff.

I can't imagine anyone buying a set or board anywhere else and I can't see how I can keep from always wanting to experience "just one more" from the House of Staunton.

Merry Christmas
D A

Frank and House of Staunton employees,

Wow! I just received my new Golden Rosewood and Boxwood Classic Series Chessmen with the 4" King. They look as good, if not better than the pictures on your website. The knights are very well crafted and I'm particularly impressed with the queens. The Mahogany Box is very well made and also impressive. And then there's the 2.25" Mahogany Frame with Algebraic Notation-European Imported Bundesliga Chessboard! Like I said, WOW! The chessmen and the board are a perfect match. I am most definitely pleased that I made these purchases. I'm positive that my next chess set purchase will be through House of Staunton!

But what really stands out is the care put into the packing and shipping, each piece being individually wrapped. The entire shipping box shows great care in protecting my purchase, not to mention your hard work. I buy a lot of stuff online and I can say without a doubt that the packaging is of the highest quality.

I want to thank House of Staunton for putting so much care and pride into my new chessmen and the other items of my purchase. You have won me as a future customer.

Sincerely,

M M

Shawn,

After purchasing several sets from your company over the past month, including a beautiful Ebony Capablanca set, I felt as if I needed to express my total satisfaction with your product. I was so impressed with the quality, detail, and workmanship of your pieces that I continued to purchase sets for my collection. My most recent purchase, listed above, is strictly for tournament play and I am certain that I will be as enamored with this set as all the others that I have purchased from House of Staunton. Please convey my deep appreciation to Mr. Camaratta for a truly exquisite product, which is almost unheard of in this day and time. It is very reassuring to set that artistry and craftsmanship has not fallen by the wayside in the face of mass production. Nothing I have seen compares to the excellent of these magnificent sets and I fully expect that my children and grandchildren will appreciate these pieces for generations to come.

I shall continue to be a devoted customer and look forward to further offerings from the House of Staunton.

L G

Excuse me for not sending this sooner.

The whole chess set is magnificent. I am really delighted. Many thanks to all of you for being so helpful and so nice.

N L

Dear Mr. Camaratta,

Thank you very much for your reply. It's certainly reassuring to know that the very head of a company is in touch with the customers.

I'd also like to take advantage of the opportunity and congratulate you for your truly outstanding products. So far my history as a customer of House Of Staunton were two purchases for chess clocks, certainly not produced by your company. For this Christmas season I decided I deserved to try one of your plastic sets. I'm absolutely astounded, your sets are simply the best. Thanks for providing us chess lovers with truly beautiful sets and accessories. Now that I've seen one of your plastic sets with my own eyes, my
mind cannot help but desire one of your wooden sets. I hope I can make that
dream a reality soon.

Regards from a VERY satisfied customer,

O R

Dear Shawn,

Got my set tonight and I am even more impressed than I thought I would be. It is very nice, very heavy and very detailed. I am happier than I could have imagined being. If this inexpensive set is this nice, I can't wait to come to the showroom and see the really expensive ones. Great job.

P C

Dear Frank,

Thank you for the excellent product your produce and the high emphasis you place on customers and customer service. Your people are so friendly and responsive and I love talking to a real person rather than getting the tired phrases about how important my call is while I sit holding for a live one. I'm not sure who gets the most pleasure out of what you do, you or the customer but how wonderful to know that you are so keen to give an added dimension to our chess pleasures.

I look forward to getting this Canadian down to Toney!

all the best,

D A

Denise,

I received the Capablanca set. It's truly a beautiful set. I really like it. As usual, it was wonderfully packaged.
Just wanted to thank you!

F G

Today I received the White Maple/Mahogany Tournament Chess Board and Classic Chess Pieces from you. They both arrived in absolutely perfect condition thanks to your wonderful packaging and shipping methods. Every piece is perfect, and they look wonderful on the wooden chess board. Your products are of the highest quality and your customer service is outstanding. I look forward to buying more chess sets from you in the near future.

G G

Dear Shawn

Hey, by the way, tell Frank the Gold Plated Capablanca set is STUNNING! I own an Imperial Collector and a Sultan Set, and the Gold Plated Capablanca is absolutely on that level! I pity the poor souls who viewed on your website and didn�t buy it. The antique look is the icing on the cake. Thanks for producing the greatest chess sets in the world. As always, feel free to use whatever text you would like for your testimonials.

Oh, and the fitted Coffer, WOW. I was really skeptical when the young lady on the phone offered it to me. What do I want with a big box? But she sold me on it, and I LOVE IT. I will buy couple more (eventually) for my other sets, and just use my fitted case for traveling.

N J

Hi there

I ordered a couple of deluxe plastic sets from you last month and I'm writing to tell you how beautiful they are. They are the best plastic sets I have ever seen (and I see a lot). Thank you so much for their speedy and safe delivery.

J K in Furness, England

Hi Frank,

I received the walnut burl/ebony (Signature Contemporary) chessboard today. It is exquisite!! A beautiful board! I am fortunate to have it. Thank you so much. My best to you and your staff!

Sincerely,

P P

Frank,

I just bought your 6" Classic Rosewood/Boxwood Four Queen set. It is fantastic! All of the pieces are better than I envisioned. The Rosewood looks very impressive and the Boxwood pieces perfectly complement them. I thought there would be some features or characteristics compromised, or the pieces would not look or feel right in scaling up from 4" to 6", but not so. In fact, these classic pieces were scaled up perfectly, have a massive and very luxurious feel in your hand, and are a real pleasure to use.

Thanks,

J L

Hi Frank,

I received my Reykjavik II ebonized chess set today (and the mouse pad). The chess set looks great. It has a beautiful classic Staunton look and I'm delighted with my purchase. You people do great work. Also its a nice contrast to the Zagreb 59 chess set that I own.

Sincerely,

D B

Just finished getting waxed 2 games by my neighbors grandson. His last words to me when leaving for the night were "Nice Set". He was referring to your new Empire series. I've purchased many of your premium sets but this one is very special. Massive is the first word that popped into my head. After playing a few games Graceful, Elegant and Balanced were added to the list. Each piece fits well in the hand and are heavily weighted. Purists of the classical Staunton design might be concerned that the Empire pieces would be distracting. I can assure you that is not the case. The only distraction I encountered while playing was admiring each individual piece as the game developed. This is quickly becoming my favorite set. Well done!!!!

As always, the customer service I have received from your staff is first rate. Thanks again for creating one of the best chess sets available at any price.

Best regards for the new year

S N

Shawn,

Thank you for all your help! I received my new chess board and box on Monday night. Both are in excellent condition. The board was wrapped so well, I don't think it moved at all. The chess box is BEAUTIFUL, WOW! You definitely have me as a customer for life. Moreover, the House of Staunton will be highly recommended to all my chess friends!

Thanks again!

J S

Dear Frank,

I have been wanting to write a testimonial for some time now. With the arrival of my latest sets and boards, I was moved to put pen to paper, so to speak.

Allow me to reminisce. I discovered the House of Staunton back in 1998, while I was in search of my first quality wooden set. Having almost decided on the "Imported Ebony" set from the USCF, I happened upon The House of Staunton and ordered a catalog. I remember feeling a sense of relief as I thumbed through the pages - a sense that someone out there had finally understood my longing for beautiful chess pieces. At that time, I believe, you were offering three series of sets: Collector, Professional and Players. My first House of Staunton set was the 4.0" Ebony Professional (Harston style.) I can still vividly remember my wife and I sitting together as we opened the packaging. We were both floored by the beauty of the pieces and the care that had gone into creating such a stunning set. That was the beginning of a beautiful relationship. My next set was the nostalgic Black and Ivory Lacquered Windsor series. After taking ownership of the Windsor Series pieces, I became a dyed-in-the-wool House of Staunton supporter. Over the year, I purchased a few more House of Staunton sets and in 2004, I believe I became the first owner of your Club Ebonized Collector Series. When I placed a special order for this yet, these pieces were not yet offered in ebony-stained boxwood. The collector pieces, housed in the luxurious Burlwood fitted briefcase, have provided me with much pleasure and enjoyment.

I am now the proud owner of seven House of Staunton sets and two House of Staunton wooden boards. Your outstanding customer service has been refreshing to experience and stands as a model for others to emulate.

What really compelled me to write this testimonial however, was my honest-to-goodness sense of shock when I laid eyes on the Imperial Club Red Sandalwood Set and Purpleheart/Bird's-Eye Maple Signature Contemporary board. For days after carefully examining and painstaking opening the packaging containing these masterpieces I could be seen wandering aimlessly around the house mumbling incoherencies. When I finally snapped out of it, I felt a deep sense of gratitude that I was able to be the steward of such magnificent works of art. The awesome combination of these pieces and board is breathtaking. For me, the set imparts a palpable presence of all those who came before us over the Royal Game. All the chess struggle - both failures and successes, of great champions, professionals, amateurs, duffers and woodpushers alike are embodied in these cultural icons.

Thank you Frank, for your dedication to chess and for your unwavering commitment to produce the world's finest Chess Sets!

Yours sincerely,

D. D.

Hi Frank,

I have been a member for a couple of years now and visit your site frequently. I have been planning a new set purchase for sometime and was especially attracted by your Christmas promotion.

I just received my new Hastings Series set and Elm Burl Board. The quality exceeded my expectations. I was always hesitant to buy an upscale House of Staunton set because I had always believed that Jaques of London could not be surpassed.

Some time back, I was given a Jaques Fischer-Spassky set and was satisfied, but it wasn't quite what I was after. The cost of this set is comparable to your Hastings set, but the quality of your sets is superior in many aspects. The finish on the pieces is better-the Jaques set shows many more tools marks and a few minor nicks and gouges. I examined my new House of Staunton set with
a magnifying glass and it is without blemish. The tooling marks are obviously much more carefully polished out. The weight and feel is better. The carving on the knight shows a higher level of craftsmanship. When the Jaques is put under the magnifier, the tool marks, nicks, and carving details are really contrasted and inferior to the same features of the House of Staunton set. In fact, for your catalog and webpage advertising, you may want to consider showing more magnified views and side-by-side comparisons.

Again, the Fischer-Spassky set is not bad. The red crowns on the rooks and knights, a feature of Jaques sets actually detracts from the set along with the "Jaques of London" lettering on the white king. It would not have been so bad if they had been applied neatly and evenly, but that was not the case. A couple of the red crowns were "smeared". The poorly applied crowns and red
lettering actually detracted from an otherwise attractive design. Your lettered green leather pad on the each of the kings is much classier and enhances rather than detracts from the design.

I was treated very well by Denise in your sales department, who was patient and helpful with all my questions since I was looking for something that would work with my existing custom built chess table. I have received many compliments on my chess room/library, which now features the Hastings set.

You obviously have a class act and House of Staunton is my new benchmark for excellence in chess sets.

Thank you from a very satisfied customer.

K C

Hi Frank,

Received the Morphy set yesterday. The set and the coffer are stunning! Looking forward to the Sandalwood Hastings and St. Petersburg sets this year.

Happy New Year to you and your staff!

C H

Denise, thanks for your guidance in selecting the right chess board for this beautiful Sandal Wood Capablanca set, and for your lightening fast shipping. Your company does make the best chess sets in the world, this will make my third but I hope not my last !

Best wishes to Frank and the entire staff at House of Staunton for a Happy New Year.

B J

Debi/Shawn,

I have received the chess set last Friday, it is absolutely stunning!!!!

Thank You both so much for great service!!!!!

Sincerely,

Y G

Hi Frank:

Just a note to say I got my 4.4" Ebonized Collector and 4" Ebony Centurion sets today along with the board. Fantastic! I am so excited. I think you have built the "Field of Dreams" for chess. Overall, I am extremely impressed with your company. I have bought from other Chess Stores in the past and I think that I will deal with your company whenever possible in the future.

Warmest personal regards and best wishes for your business in the future.

G T

Mr. Camaratta,

I was so surprised with the beauty of this chess set!! It is really a pleasure to do business with your company. I never expected this level of quality, truly amazing. It will be a pleasure to play with these pieces. The knight is truly magnificent. This set is worth a lot more than what I actually paid for this beautiful set. Look forward to doing more business with you.

Thank you,

L M

Dear Frank,

I received the chess set today and it has exceeded my expectations. You don't know how many plastic sets I have purchased over the years only to be disappointed. The excellent drawstring bag and extra queens are the perfect touch. All of my future chess set purchases will be from The House of Staunton.

Thanks!

K K

I wanted to tell you how much I am impressed by the quality of customer service you're providing. I received an e-mail from Fedex with tracking link without having to ask for it. I was planning to do a follow up on FEDEX's web site with the number I was given on the invoice but looks like I won't have to do it.

Every time I wrote to you asking for information I had been pleased with the answers (e.g. enough information was given so I had not to do replies for further information).

You can publish my comments on your web site if you wish.

Thank you again!

Regards,

L F

Shawn/Frank;

I received the replacement pieces today together with the new rosewood classic set. Everything is superb. I was amazed by the quality of the classic pieces. I thought i was buying a standard set to go with the other high class set to use purely as a daily player. Damn you guys , the classic set in itself is superb and better quality than sets I have seen over in the UK for several times the money. It seems that you don't do a cheap low quality set to actually play with !!!!!!!

Joking apart, I am delighted , with everything i have purchased and with your brilliant customer service.

Many thanks and best regards.

D H

Dear Frank,

Just to let you know, the 4.4" Ebonized Collector set arrived in good shape yesterday. Thank you very much. It is the 6th set I've bought from you, and it is great as usual. Positive feedback has been left. Thanx again, and best wishes on all your sales.

K L

Thank you Frank. Set arrived and I am very happy. You are as good as they say you are. Thank you for keeping the faith with those who want something nice and don't want to get taken for a ride.

J F

Frank,

The set (4.4" Ebonized Collector) arrived yesterday in pristine condition. I�ve had a chance to play a few games with the set and I have to say that it�s just about perfect. The ebonized black pieces are really well finished. It is hard to distinguish them from real ebony, especially after they have been waxed and polished. And the boxwood used for the white pieces is flawless, almost without grain, so much so that my wife made the comment that they looked more �plastic� than wood because it was so perfect. Hopefully, with the ebonized pieces, I will not have the annoying hairline cracks that plagued the ebony pawns of my Marshall set. Thanks again for producing this set. It does indeed compare very well with the original 1849 Staunton design.

G A

Dear Shawn;

I received my chess set today, and it is beautiful, absolutely beautiful. Thank you, and may all your chess games end as they begin - with joy!

R E

Dear Mr. Camaratta;

Today I received my first House of Staunton chess set, the ebonized Player�s, and I am completely astonished at the quality and detailed captured in each of your chess pieces. Your company�s pieces are the best I have ever had the privilege of owning. The balance, weight, and feel are exactly what I have been searching for, for quite some time. Unfortunately, I had previously purchased quite a few rather expensive chess sets from other sources, and have always been sadly disappointed with the results. The craftsmanship of those pieces was deplorable at best. I hate to say that I purchased your Player�s set in an attempt to test the waters, so to speak, regarding the quality of your pieces; but it is true. However, I have to say, that if this is one of your value sets, then I have much to look forward to, since I have been eyeing several of your more elegant sets for quite some time, but with a little reluctance from past experiences. Having said all of that, I really just wanted to say thank you! Thank you for building such an incredible company. One that I feel fills a void that has been looming over the chess world for quite some time. I am now proud to say that I have found very playable chess pieces that I can pass down as heirlooms. They truly are legends. Again, thank you for everything. I look forward to working with your company in the near future.

J W

Hi Frank,

Very happy to have my parcel. One word says it all :they are IRRESISTIBLE. Got me hooked up playing in the middle of the night.

J A

My Capablanca chess set arrived today - it is perfect! What a beautiful set. The ebony is evenly jet black throughout and the color tone for all the boxwood pieces matches well. The the pieces are ideally proportioned and smoothly worked. The crowns on the Queens are much more sharply defined than they are in your brochure and Web site photos. The knights are my favorite - they look like real horses and they show wonderful hand carving detail.

Thank you for an excellent product.

S M

This is to let you know the set arrived in good shape today (only 4 days after purchasing it--which must be some sort of record). It is the 5th set I've bought from you, and I expect there will be more. As always it is top notch. Thank you very much.

K L

The Marshall set has arrived safely today, and it is fantastic! If I'd known how great it was going to be, I would not have waited this long! By the way, I have a Jaques Staunton set from 1922 that is almost identical to this one, but I can't use it in tournaments because it's too valuable! Now I can have the same pleasure without the risk!!!

Cheers,

D S

Dear Frank;

The package arrived today on schedule. I had no idea how stunning these pieces actually are. The pictures don't do them proper justice. The roll ups are the biggest and best I've ever seen as well. I'm very happy to have done business with you.

I want to thank you most of all for the calendar and issue of "New in Chess". It isn't very often that you come across someone who is so generous. I will most definitely do some word of mouth advertising for you in my social circle.

N H

Hi Frank,

To my amazement, I already received this order today! (I wasn't expecting to receive it until some time next week). And I must say I'm impressed... The bag is just what I've been looking for (for some time), the folding board is unique & nicer than the normal rollup boards, and the plastic chess pieces are among the nicest I've ever seen (2nd only to the HOS 4" Collector set) Also, nice touch including the magazine & calendar! Mark me down as one very pleased customer... I'm sure I'll be back some day for the Collector set in Rosewood/Boxwood (can't quite fit it into my budget right now, but hopefully in the not TOO distant future). Thanks again!

M R

Frank,

Just wanted to say thanks for all the replacement pieces I�ve requested for my Marshall Tournament set, including the black pawn I received today. Your customer service is the best. It�s been a lifelong dream of mine to own and play with a quality set of Staunton chessmen like the Marshall , and now it�s come true.

G A

Dear House of Staunton;

THANKS THANKS THANKS for the two bags and triple weights. The bag is better than expected... the best I have ever seen! You have an awesome product and the best customer service ever! Taking my children to Nashville, TN in April for the Supernationals and will pass the word on your website to all. It is refreshing to deal with someone who is lightening fast in their responses as well as accommodating special requests. Shipping and packing was excellent, and it arrived in no time at all! Thanks again and I don't have to tell you what a great thing you have going. Can't say enough in praise. God bless!

A B

Dear Frank Camaratta;

Never has a product or company so exceeded my expectations as has House of Staunton. In unwrapping the Classic, Reykjavik II, and Capablanca series sets I recently bought, I was stunned at the aesthetically perfect design and execution of the pieces. Even the "economical" Classic pieces are better than anything else I have seen for two or even three times the price. These are not just chess pieces - they are masterpieces of art and craftsmanship. If you love chess, beautifully crafted objects, or both, as I do, there is nowhere else to turn but House of Staunton. The photos on your web site, sumptuous as they are don't begin to do justice to the craftsmanship of these chess sets. They will have pride of place in our home, and I will sing the praises of HOS to every chess player I meet. I was very fortunate in my auction purchase of these sets, and the least I can do is to spread the word about your products from one who has seen them in person. It's also great to find a company that personifies both integrity and excellence. Thanks again and best wishes,

J R

Shawn,

Just a note to say that thanks for all your help & everything was received OK. We had a league match the other night and the opposing teams were very impressed with our House of Staunton sets - they could be ordering some of their own!!

Many thanks for all your help.

J S

Dear Mr. Camaratta;

My Classic Series 4.4" Golden Rosewood/Boxwood set arrived today and I must say the quality is extraordinary for such an affordably priced set. I also appreciated the extremely careful packaging of each individual piece. Being something of a perfectionist, I immediately examined the set in detail and found it to flawless in design, weight and feel. I can't imagine a serious chess player looking anywhere else than HOS.

F C

Frank;

Thanks for quick delivery and great customer service, folks. These are absolutely beautiful chess pieces, no other way to describe them. I have been an artist and woodworker for 40 years, and it is an EXTREMELY rare occurrence when objects match my attention to detail. These chess pieces more than do that. The quality of the turning is magnificent, and the finish is flawless and lustrous with NO defects.

Bravo, House of Staunton!

K A

Shawn,

Pro Line Series Review

First off I'd like to say thanks to Frank and Shawn for all their help to the many questions I had before and after my purchase of this set. I began looking for an affordable, but decent, chess set about 2 months ago. After numerous searches on yahoo and eBay I discovered House of Staunton. I immediately fell in love with the Parthenon Series, but unfortunately (me being a poor college student) it was out of my price range. I then came across the Pro Line series, which had a simple, yet classic design for a very reasonable price. I particularly liked the diamond shaped head of the bishops (as it reminded me of the bishops on the Parthenon set).

This was to be my first "nice" chess set, and I can't begin to explain how pleased I was when I received it. I sent payment via paypal and a few hours later I received an email stating that my set had already been shipped! Two days after sending payment UPS delivered my set, which was meticulously packed. Upon opening the outer box all I could see was packing peanuts. Under the peanuts was a cardboard box, which then contained another box, which held the chess men. Each piece was individually wrapped and rubber banded. It literally took me almost 20 minutes to unwrap each piece. When I was finally done I couldn't believe how nice this set was for the price. When they say "The design, quality, and finish of each House of Staunton chess piece is superb, and the workmanship is precise and the cut modern" they aren't kidding. If I am this pleased from a "value line" set, I can't even imagine how nice the Capablanca or Sultan Series must be. The pieces are perfect; I couldn't see a single tool mark or anything. A friend of mine was also amazed by the quality of the set and plans to purchase one for himself in the next few months. If you're on a budget and looking for a nice set, definitely check out the Pro Line Series.

Dear Mr. Camaratta,

Thanks for the quick response. It really isn't much of a problem. I will be in Washington DC until Wednesday and will mail the piece to you at the end of the week. There is absolutely no hurry in getting the replacement back to me; you can wait until after Christmas if you are very busy (which I expect you are...).

Thanks again for the great service. You run a very fine company, Mr. Camaratta. Have a good and (if possible) relaxing holiday.

Sincerely,

G J

Customer Testimonials