Ever since the concept album was first released there has been a whole host of different kinds of merchandise. My aim here is to catalogue all or as many of these items as possible. Big thanks to the SquareOne.org website for the temporary use of some images. If anybody has any of these items and is willing to send me some new images I would be most grateful.
It seems the first merchandise for the show was on sale in the foyer of the Prince Edward Theatre, when tickets for the show first went on sale, I think around November 1985. I'm told this included an enamel badge and a memo block. There was also a small (6"x4") postcard and match books at some point, probably not for sale, but just as promotional give away items. (Thanks Gerard for the match book pic and others.)
When the Chess Pieces album was released it contained a leaflet with an order form for a number of additional items.
The Black Sweatshirt (Thanks Gerard for the image) and black T-shirt
Original black souvenir brochure and the replacement white version
Original promotional folio poster and the one that was on sale in the theatre
The original promotional folio poster has 'Opens May 14th' near the bottom and the one that was for sale in the theatre had Bjorn, Benny and Tim's names along the bottom. There was also a large version of this, but I can't find an image of it yet...
White folio and large posters..... there seems to have been an alternate folio version, without the quote???
William Hartston's book - Chess The Making of the Musical
Original black mug
The later white mug
Tin badges, originally only in black, but later also in white. No image of the black one yet...
Black T- Shirt (Thanks to SquareOne.org)
White T-Shirt (Thanks to SquareOne.org)
Black Polo Neck Sweatshirt (Thanks to SquareOne.org)
White Sweatshirt (Thanks to SquareOne.org)
Puffa Jacket (Thanks to Simon & SquareOne.org)
Chess Umbrella (Thanks to Marco & SquareOne.org)
When the show went on tour in 1990 the cast were given the opportunity to buy a tour jacket, with their name embroidered on it. I've not found an image of one of these yet, but maybe soon...
Broadway Merchandise
If the show had ran for longer on Broadway, perhaps there would have been a bit more merchandise created, but as it is there was very little.
Broadway Playbill and Brochure
Broadway Posters
Broadway T-shirt (Thanks Pepé for the images)
Button badge and first night party badge...... (Thanks to SquareOne.org)
Sydney Merchandise
Sydney Brochure, with a slot on the inside back cover for the programme to fit into.
There were beautiful T-shirts for the Sydney production. A black one and a white one, both with the Sydney logo on them. I did have one of each, but gave them away and so far I have not been able to find an image of them anywhere..... can anybody help?
Sydney Mug
I'm not sure if this poster was actually for sale, but it was certainly used for marketing. (Thanks Dawn for the image)
Fridge Magnet and Keyring
Stockholm Merchandise
With the brand new version of the show came a slightly modified version of the logo, now with a red stray square. This was used on a number of items.
The Mugs (Thanks Steven for the pics)
Fridge Magnet & Poster
2003 Calendar (Thanks Slavek for the pics)
UK 2010 Tour Merchandise
Brochure and Programme
T-shirts and Hoody
The Mugs
Fridge Magnet and Keyring
A quite nice item was a red cotton bag with the lyrics to I Know Him So Well printed on it. Sadly, they got the lyrics wrong! 'Wanting a few more moments'.
Cotton Bag
Gothenburg Merchandise
I'm not sure if there was a version of the poster with Freddie on it, or just this one with Florence...?
There were large postcards with pics from the show. Only have three, but there may have been more..?