Eli Jackson's Antique German Chessboard / Checkerboard with Hand-inked Guides Plus Checkers Set house on mill Manufacturing textiles for sale was

Manufacturing textiles for sale was a significant source of income for the religious community

The frame itself shows wear and some loss to the surface particularly along the bottom edge

with a terrific rich patina

The carved hand on one side with finger pointing upward makes me believe it dates to the 1880s or so

It took me a moment to place this curious creature

Eli Jackson's Antique German Chessboard / Checkerboard with Hand-inked Guides Plus Checkers Set house on mill Manufacturing textiles for sale wasI found this board and this boxed checkers set separately, but I believe they are about of the same age, and they feel quite sympatico to me so while one still needs chess pieces, at least one level of play (or practice) can commence! It is the carefully hand inked letters and numbers that really sold me on this board, done I am sure by the Dr. Eli S. Jackson who signed his name equally carefully on the back I presume as he set out to master the game