Author: Siegbert Tarrasch (1862-1934) signed by Siebert Tarrasch, Jacques Mieses, Aaron Nimzowitsch, Akiba Rubinstein, Savielly Tartakower, George Alan Thomas and Karel Treybal
Year: 1925
Publisher: Schachverlag Berhard Kagan
Place: Berlin
Description:
xv+127 pages with table and 4 plates. Octavo (8 3/4" x 6 1/4") original publisher's wrappers bound into half red leather over marbled boards. With 6 handwritten signatures from some of the participating chess masters at the tournament: Siebert Tarrasch, Jacques Mieses, Aaron Nimzowitsch, Akiba Rubinstein, Savielly Tartakower, George Alan Thomas and Karel Treybal on postcard laid in. (Bibliotheca Van der Linde-Niemeijeriana: 5373) First edition.
Colored postcard sent by post with 6 handwritten signatures of some participants in the tournament in Baden – Baden 1925 as well as handwritten text signed by v. Karel Treybal on the back. (3 1/2" x 5 1/2"). A short text written by hand in Czech and signature of Czech chess champion Karel Treybal (1885 – 1941) to Milos Hrbas. The front shows a reproduction with a view of the Kurhaus in Baden-Baden with the square in front of it, based on an original by H. Hoffmann. Card from the art publisher Edm. v. Koenig, Heidelberg.
If there is one event which fully characterizes the color and excitement of the palmy days of Hypermodern Chess - then this must be the Baden Baden tournament of 1925. Despite the absence of the past, present and future world champions, Lasker, Capablanca and Euwe, most of the world's chess elite accepted Dr Tarrasch's invitation to take part in the competition which would surpass even those tournaments of Germany's golden pre-War period. So many different countries were represented that the Baden Baden contest was dubbed "The Championship of Europe", while, in addition, America also sent its best players. No wonder the ambitious Alekhine, as a consequence, was inspired to write what proved to be the longest openings survey of his life! Indeed, Baden Baden was of great historical significance in that it was Alekhine's first outright win in a really great tournament. His dazzling play prompted Tartakover to make his famous declaration: "Capalbanca is world champion, Dr Lasker was world champion, but Alekhine plays the way a world champion should play!" Two years later, Alexander Alekhine became world champion. Only one month after the completion of the tournament, the well-known chess publisher of those days, Bernhard Kagan, brought out a book with all the games.
Condition:
Light extremity wear, some damp rippling to heal edges else a good to very good copy. Postcard is age toned, shows signs of wear and has two tears and a crease on the left edge. Rare chess historical collector's item.
SOLD 2023