Chess

460 pages with frontispiece and index. Octavo (8 1/4" x 5 1/4") bound in half blue cloth with raised spine bands and gilt lettering to spine and marbled boards. (Bibliotheca van der Linde-Niemeijeriana: 5256) First edition.Like the historic London competition nearly half a century earlier (1851, the third Paris international tournament was conducted in the exciting splendor of the world's fair. A total of 17 players from Germany, Hungary, Mexico, Austria, the Untied States, England, Russian and France competed for 12,800 in prize money and four valuable Servres fases donated by the French Government. The Grande Cercle club served the visiting masters free coffee, tea and lemonade during the competition. The participants were permitted to take all their meals in the club, which was known for its superior cuisine. The Paris organizing committee, following the example of the London 1883 and New York 1889 tournaments, required that all drawn games be replayed. Only the result of the second… Read more

2 volumes: [iv]+613 pages; [iv]+578 pages. Folio (14 1/4" x10 1/4") bound in original red gilt lettering to spine. Introduction by George J Maciuszko. (Betts: 1-58) First edition.This catalog consists of some 15,000 items from the chess and checker section of the John G White Collection housed in the Cleveland Public Library. The catalog entries from the card catalog have been photographically reproduced (size reduced) with 21 entries to each page in three columns of seven. In the author portion, titles are further arranged chronologically by date of publication. The titles in the subject part are classified by a local extension of the Decimal Classification. Cataloging practice appears to conform largely to the Dewey Decimal code, with some divergence of practice over the years. Some annotation of the bibliographical nature is given where relevant.The collection originated as the personal library of John Griswold White, a noted Cleveland attorney, who served many years as President and… Read more

664 pages with diagrams, tables, plates and indexes. Royal octavo (9 1/2" x 6 1/2") in original decorative binding. Notes by Grünfeld and Beeker. Includes 214 pages on chess problems which in turn includes a part on retrograde analysis by Kluver. (Bibliotheca Van der Linde-Niemeijeriana:5550) First edition."Not just the 91 annotated games of the tournament won by Reti and Spielmann ahead of Tartakover, Rubinstein. Grünfeld and so on (with Tarrasch in 13th place, next to bottom). This material with notes by Grünfeld and Beeker takes up only the first 286 pages, whereupon follows a report on a two-mover competition, then a three-mover, articles on various aspects of problem and study themes, a witty Tartakover 'chess alphabet', very detailed indexes and a 75 page account by chess historian Ludwig Bachmann... What leisured days they enjoyed then!" British Chess Magazine.Condition:Previous owners name and date "1923" on title, corners bumped else a very good copy.

Alain Campbell White letters to Frederick Gamage cover the years from April 4, 1935 to September 15, 1944. For this ten year period there are 364 dated letters and 28 incomplete letters (lacking front date page). The letters are an ongoing correspondence between White and Gamage which covers all aspects of problem chess. The letters show a development of mentor (White), encouraging ad occasionally prodding his protégé (Gamage) in developing skills in problem construction. As the letters progress over this ten year period, the reader can observe the relationship develop between the two men, from a formal intercourse to a more comradely banter. White offered suggestions, comments and themes for problems. White's vast and profound technical knowledge, his artistic appreciation, his ability in expressing himself, and his enthusiastic and friendly encouragement were the great inspiration of many problems Gamage constructed, and he was lucky enough to be among his host of correspondents. Some of the… Read more

295 pages. small octavo (7 3/4" x 5 1/2") bound in original publisher's black cloth with gilt lettering to spine. Signed by the author. First edition.At the end of his life Lasker wrote "The Community of the Future" - a book in which he tried to put down his idea for an ideal society. Two problems were especially dear to his heart: the fate of the European Jews and the problem of unemployment. To solve the first, Lasker proposed Alaska as a possible place for immigration - a proposal that at that time did not sound as absurd as it may sound today. Lasker also thought about the origin of antisemitism and identified unemployment as one of the main reasons that made people turn against the Jews. His remedy against unemployment was the idea to erect camps modeled after the Kibbuz system in Israel to train people for the job-market.Not only was Emanuel Laster World Chess Champion for 27 years - longer than any other player before or after him - but he also held a PhD in Mathematics, published a number of… Read more

xvi+1079 pages with over 500 pictures, 1600 diagrams, 700 games and indexes. Thick quarto (11 1/4" x 8 1/4") bound in original publisher's grey cloth with silver lettering to spine and cover and two ribbon markers. Published for the Lasker Society. Introduction by Paul Werner Wagner. Signed by all the contestants, arbitrators, commentators and sponsors of the Second Sinquefield Cup as well by some of the editors and contributors. First edition in a planned trilogy.
Twenty five top level authors contribute in detail Lasker's multifaceted life inside and outside the chess world. His chess career has been analyzed by grand-masterly hands from the very beginning over the long time as a world champion to the surprising comeback in retirement. Six key chapters trace Lasker's life and work in Germany, England, the Netherlands, the United States, Cuba and Russia. For the first time Lasker's origin and childhood have been compiled in detail besides the volume offers and in-depth appreciation of the figure of… Read more

112+[1 ad] pages with diagrams and errata laid in. Square folio (12 1/4" x 10 1/4") bound in original publisher's wrappers in original onionskin jacket with a handwritten letter signed by Marcel Duchamp housed in a handcrafted archival enclosure by Octavaye. (Bibliotheca Van der Linde-Niemeijeriana: 2273) First edition.
Letter by Marcel Duchamp to Richard Hulbeck 25 October 1947. Reads as follows: Dear Hulbeck, The pictures are not back and I am afraid won't be back for some months. Schweizer, the representative there is in France and is coming back in a few weeks or days. He will have exact information about the return of the shipment. Don't worry and I will call you up some day soon. Affectueusement Marcel.
Richard Hulsenbeck (1892-1972) was a German writer, poet and psychoanalyst. In 1920 he was editor of the Dada Almanach and wrote Dada siegt-Eine Bilanz des Dadaismus. After emigration to USA in 1923 he changed his name to Hulbeck.Curiosity has impelled the authors to elucidate a question which… Read more

3 sheets (including title)+120 pages with 1 copper engraving portrait of the author, 1 title vignette and 1 text copper. 3 sheets (including title) bound with . Dell'Antica pettia overo the Palamede not è stato l'inventor degli Scacchi. Trattato ... Nel quale si dà piena contezza non solo de 'Scacchi, ma di più Giuochi degli Antichi, non men dilettevoli, che necesssarii all'intelligenza di moltiluoghi di Greci & Latini Scrittori 5 leaves (including title),+82 pages with 1 title vignette (1 copper engraving portrait of the author is missing). Quarto (8 1/2" x 6 1/4") bound in full brown leather with five raised spine bands and red label in gilt lettering and decorative gilt with narrow ruled edges go cover with marbled end papers. From the Lothar Schmid chess book collection. (Linde - n. 4147; van der Linde I, hatchet. 33; see Schmid 314; Massmann S. 171.12; Chicco - Sanvito 805) First editions.
Marcus Aurelius Severino (born in Tarsia - died of the plague in Naples) was a philosopher, doctor and… Read more

16 pages with photographs and tables. Royal octavo (9" x 6") bound in original publisher's pictorial stapled wrappers. Signed by all the contestants. First edition.
Ten grandmasters were invited to compete against six top Swiss masters, including the Swiss champion, at Zurich's Kongreßhaus from May 18th to June 8th, 1959. Among the grandmasters invited were Mikhail Tal and Paul Keres from the Soviet Union, Bobby Fischer from the United States, Svetozar Gligoric from Yugoslavia, Bent Larsen from Denmark, Wolfgang Unzicker from Germany, and Fridrik Olafsson from Iceland, a number of these participating in the world candidates tournament the same year. Although Tal viewed the tournament as a lesser event, it turned out to be closer than he would have expected. Although he easily defeated five of the six Swiss players, Edwin Bhend dealt the future world champion a fatal blow in the first round. After dispatching his countrymen later in the tournament, Tal felt in fine form, but then lost again, this time… Read more

2 page autograph letter signed by Stubbs. Probably to E.B. Cook, concerning some chess problems, one of which accompanied the letter (not included here).

Stubbs (1853-1907) was an early Canadian chess editor, chess problemist of distinction, and for 24 years editor of the chess column of the St. John Globe, N.B., and author of what was the second chess book published in Canada (Globe Problem and Solution Tourney No. 2, London (Ontario), 1889. Stubbs letters are virtually unknown.

Condition:

A very good copy.

[vi]+214+[i] pages with chessboard illustration, 6 chess pieces as text vignettes and many decorated woodcut initials. Octavo (8 1/4" x 5 1/2") bound in later vellum with brown label to spine in gilt lettering. Translated from the Spanish by G. Domenicus Tarsia. (Schmid p. 236 ff. L/N 372. van der Linde I, 348) First Italian edition, first state with gomito, Gobito and Gombito on lines 1, 3 and 6 on page 133 whereas the later variant has consistent spelling gomito (elbow). First Italian edition of the original Spanish edition by G. Domenicus Tarsia, extremely rare. This Italian translation is a somewhat free adaptation, which was enhanced with woodcuts. Selenus edited the main content of his chess work from the printed Italian translation. His textbook contains the rules of the game, strategies and openings. He preferred the Bishop game, especially "the Gambit des Lopez" and the King's Gambit. Lopez is considered the "father of chess theory" since he was the first to explain his moves. An important… Read more

xx+337+[3 ad] pages with diagrams, plates and tables. Octavo (8 1/4" x 5 3/4") bound in original publisher's light brown cloth with brown lettering to spine and cover. Forward by Herman Helms. Inscribed by Alexander Alekhine. (Bibliotheek Bibliotheca van der Linde-Niemeijeriana: 5367) First German edition. First published in English.
Personal dedication from the former world chess champion Alexander Alekhine to Tarrasch: "Mr. Doctor Tarrasch with the highest respect from the author. Paris, 14/2 1925."
New York 1924 was an elite chess tournament held in the Alamac Hotel in New York City from March 6 to April 18, 1924. It was organized by the Manhattan Chess Club. The competitors included world champion Jose Raul Capablanca and his predecessor Emanuel Lasker. Nine other top players from Europe and America were also invited. Emanuel Lasker met Alexander Alekhine, Efim Bogoljubow, Geza Maroczy, Richard Reti, Savielly Tartakower and Frederick Yates in Hamburg. They steamed with the SS Cleveland on February… Read more

iv unnumbered pages (including Title page)+80 pages. Folio (13 1/4" x 10") bound in paisley green with green label to spine in gilt lettering. (RISM P 1811) Signed. First edition.
François-André Danican Philidor was a French composer and chess player. He contributed to the early development of the opéra comique. He is widely regarded as the best chess player of his age; his book Analyse du jeu des Échecs was considered a standard chess manual for at least a century. A well-known chess opening, an endgame position, and a checkmate method are all named after him.
First edition of this score dedicated to the Dauphin of the time, i.e. Louis de France (1729-1765), son of Louis XV and father of Louis XVI. It was performed at Versailles "before their Majesties" on 15 March 1763.
Philidor, considered to be one of the creators of comic opera, obtained his first success with Blaise le Savetier in 1759 and thus a pension from Louis XV. He went on to have many successes, including this work.
On the back of… Read more

3 parts in one volume: Part I. (De Ludis Orientalibus. Libri Duo ...) Mandragorias, seu Historia Shahiludii, viz. ejusdem Origo, Antiquitas, Ususque per totum Orientem ... De ludis Orientalium Libri primi ... 36 sheets (including two title pages)+184 pages with one folded copper plate, diagrams and facsimiles. Part II. Shahiludium. Traditum in tribus scriptis hebraicis, quae sunt Rabbi Abraham Abben - Ezrae elegans Poema ryhtmicum ... Omnia ex Chartis MSS jam primus deprompsit & Latinè vertit Thomas Hyde ... 2 sheets (including title), 71 pages. Part III. Historia nerdiludii, high est dicere, trunculorum; cum quibusdam aliis Arabum, Persarum, Indorum, Chinensium, & aliarum gentium ludis tam politicis quàm bellicis, plerumque Europae inauditis, multò minùs visis: additis omnium Nominibus in dictarum Gentium Linguis. Ubi etiam Classicorum Graecorum & Latinorum loca quaedam meliùs quàm hactenùs factum est explicantur. Item, Explicatio amplissimi Chinensium Ludi, qui eorum Politiam & modum… Read more

2 volumes in 1. 4 sheets+71 pages with woodcut vignettes. 8 sheets, 64 pages with woodcut vignettes. Octavo (8" x 5 1/2") bound in period vellum with handwritten author's name on spine. (Linde 383 f; van der Linde I, 369; Chicco / Sanvito, Lineamenti No. 755; Kieler Schachkatalog 1137; Schmid p. 302) From the library of Meindert Niemeijer. First edition of Il puttino altramente detto, il cavaliero errante del Salvio, sopra il gioco de' scacchi, con la sua apologia contra il Carrera, diviso in tre libr and second impression of Trattato dell'inventione et arte liberale del gioco di scacchi del Dottor Alessandro Salvio Napolitano Libro Quarto.
The beautiful title vignette shows the coat of arms of Pietro Giordano Ursino, to whom the book is also dedicated. Page 4 recto contains a "Sonnetto del Signor Giuseppe Imperato." The strong Italian chess player, describes the modifications of the King's Gambit and the Giuochi piani in his chess book. "Salvio's esteemed work consists of two parts, one of which,… Read more