Author: Jose Raul "J R" Capablanca y Graupera, (1888-1942) inscribed by the author
Year: 1920
Publisher: MacMillan Company
Place: New York
Description:
xiv+188 pages with diagrams and tables. Small octavo (7 1/2" x 5 1/4") bound in original publisher's green cloth with gilt lettering to spine and blind-stamped ruled edges to cover. Signed and dated by the author. (Betts 29-22) Slight difference in the Betts listing with no frontispiece and pages listed to 188. First edition.
The author traces the development of his chess ability in ten chronological chapters, each marked by8 a particular milestone, with thirty five annotated games.
This edition lacks the frontispiece portrait does not have the index of opponents and the Du Mont introduction. This is probably an advance revew edition.
José Raúl Capablanca y Graupera was a Cuban chess player who was the third world chess champion from 1921 to 1927. A chess prodigy, he is widely renowned for his exceptional endgame skill and speed of play.
Capablanca beat Cuban champion Juan Corzo in a match on 17 November 1901, two days before his 13th birthday. His victory over Frank Marshall in a 1909 match earned him an invitation to the 1911 San Sebastián tournament, which he won ahead of players such as Akiba Rubinstein, Aron Nimzowitsch and Siegbert Tarrasch. Over the next several years, Capablanca had a strong series of tournament results. After several unsuccessful attempts to arrange a match with then world champion Emanuel Lasker, Capablanca finally won the world chess champion title from Lasker in 1921. Capablanca was undefeated from February 10, 1916 to March 21, 1924, a period that included the world championship match with Lasker.
Capablanca lost the title in 1927 to Alexander Alekhine, who had never beaten Capablanca before the match. Following unsuccessful attempts to arrange a rematch over many years, relations between them became bitter.
Condition: Signed and dated Chicago December 2, 1926 on the half title page. Some soiling, points gently rubbed else very good in a rare item.