is is a very rare antique print - indeed I have as yet not been able to trace another impression of it.
It has no publication line or date - and each featured image is simply signed with the initials SH.
It must date to the early 19th century - based on the Regency fashions depicted and the style of the graphics.
It is certainly a print that would appeal very much to a Chess player - or to hang in a club or gentleman's games room or den as a special decorative item.
The images are printed as a series on one sheet - and almost form a storyboard.
I especially love the decorative borders printed around each image - which are slightly Gothic in feel and style - and are made up from abstract chess pieces - the King or Queen / Bishop's Mitre / Castle or Rook / and the Knight's Horse. - these are all printed in a pale beige tone and linked by the linear border which forms a frame around each image.
The four images are as follows: the first image is entitled The Challenge - where the opponents are seen deciding on who makes the first move in the game.
The second image is The Struggle - where the game unfolds and each player is in deep contemplation - must be a rather long game as the wee doggie, shown all alert in the first image, has now curled up and fallen asleep under the table.
The third image is called The Victory - you can almost hear the guy on the right shout "checkmate"... he shouts out with such vigour he wakes up the wee doggie who runs away.
The final image is called The Parting - the sore loser takes away his candle and retires with a sullen stoop to his room. He certainly looks very pipped off and the little dog follows him dejected with his head hung low. The victor takes delight in his win and warms his seat at the roaring sire.
A fabulous and very rare print.
I have removed it from the frame to check its condition - the print has been strangely framed some time ago - the sheet has been stretched tight of a wooden frame with a wooden slip at the edges - all very Regency and historical in framing technique - almost like you would frame a canvas. The drum-tight paper contained in the fine gold slip frame is then placed into a glazed antique bird's eye maple frame. The sheet is in good condition with no damp spotting, rips or tears - the sheet is also a light beige tone probably to pick up the printed white tones in the print. It has not browned or discoloured over the years.
But certainly a very fine antique Regency lithograph / original print.
The subject does not often feature in the print media - and as I have mentioned earlier I have looked and failed to find another impression of this image.
It is a nice larger size for display - the sheet is about 33 x 37.5 cm. The frame is 44 x 48 cm.
A very fair price for this extremely rare work. Sadly, due to the weight of the old frame - the print would have to be sent to UK addresses only.
UK Postage would be with Parcelforce24. It would cost about £10 and this would be applied to your order at checkout.