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Lot 176
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Chess Set bought for Lee Harvey Oswald by his mother when he was a teenager in New Orleans ‾ the fact that he played chess is mentioned in the Warren Report by his mother and two soldiers he served with in the Marines, one of whom testified, “Oswald always chose the red chessmen, making some remark to the effect that he preferred the ‘Red Army.’”
Chess Set bought for Lee Harvey Oswald by his mother when he was a teenager in New Orleans ‾ the fact that he played chess is mentioned in the Warren Report by his mother and two soldiers he served with in the Marines, one of whom testified, “Oswald always chose the red chessmen, making some remark to the effect that he preferred the ‘Red Army.’”
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Description:

Oswald Lee

Chess Set bought for Lee Harvey Oswald by his mother when he was a teenager in New Orleans


Comprises 14 plastic white chess pieces: King, Queen, 2 Castles, 2 Knights, 1 Bishop, and 7 Pawns; 14 plastic red chess pieces: King, Queen, 2 Castles, 1 Knight, 2 Bishops, and 7 Pawns. The chess pieces are in generally fine condition. The Queens and the red King are each missing the felt at the hollow bottom. The original burgundy leather-textured box measures 6.5” x 4” x 2”. The bottom is worn. A gilt Knight is imprinted on the cover which is heavily worn at the hinge and is almost entirely detached from the box. The snap button is present on the front side but the strap attached to the cover which would fold over to the snap, closing the box, is missing. “TOURNAMENT / CHESSMEN / BY / LOWE” is embossed inside the cover.



Lee Harvey Oswald’s mother, Mrs. Marguerite Oswald, testified before the President’s Commission on the Assassination of President John F. Kennedy in Washington, D.C., on the morning of February 12, 1964. Present were Chief Justice Earl Warren, Chairman; Representative Hale Boggs and Representative Gerald R. Ford, members. Also present were J. Lee Rankin, general counsel; Wesley J. Liebeler, assistant counsel; and John F. Doyle, attorney for Mrs. Marguerite Oswald. Excerpt from Mrs. Oswald’s testimony: “Lee played Monopoly. Lee played chess. Lee had a stamp collection, and even wrote to other young men and exchanged stamps, sir. And Lee read history books, books too deep for a child his age.”



Excerpt from the sworn Affidavit of Mack Osborne to the Warren Commission dated May 18, 1964: “While I was in the United States Marine Corps, I served in Marine Air Control Squadron 9 in Santa Ana, California, with Lee Harvey Oswald. Prior to his discharge, I shared a room with him ... Oswald read a great deal, although I do not remember what sort of books he read. He also watched television and played chess.”



Excerpt from the sworn Affidavit of Richard Dennis Call to the Warren Commission dated May 20, 1964: “From December, 1958, to December, 1959, I was stationed with Marine Air Control Squadron #9, Lighter Than Air Station, Santa Ana, California. During this time I made the acquaintance of Lee Harvey Oswald ... Oswald spent a great deal of time reading. I do not remember what he read, because he never talked about it. He also spent a great deal of time playing chess. I played chess with him about once a week; we were of approximately equal ability ... I had a chess set which contained red and white chessmen; Oswald always chose the red chessmen, making some remark to the effect that he preferred the ‘Red Army.’”



Accompanied by a signed statement of Robert L. Oswald, brother of Lee Harvey Oswald: “To Whom It May Concern: My brother Lee was born in New Orleans in 1939. Lee and my mother moved back to New Orleans from New York City in January 1954 when Lee was 14. It was while he was living in New Orleans that my mother bought him a chess set with red and white pieces. When I was discharged from the U.S. Marine Corps in July 1955, I settled in Fort Worth, Texas. In the Summer of 1956, Mother and Lee moved from New Orleans to Ft. Worth where we shared an apartment. Over the years, four chess pieces were lost. I now transfer ownership of the remaining 28 chessmen, in the original ‘Tournament Chessmen by Lowe’ worn box, belonging to Lee to John Reznikoff of University Archives in Westport, Connecticut.”


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$100 $299 $20
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