Author: Leopold Hoffer (1842-1913)
Year: 1908
Publisher: E A Michell and Frank Hollings
Place: London
Description:
viii+49+[4 ad] pages with frontispiece and diagrams. Small octavo (7 1/4" x 4 3/4") bound in original publisher's wrappers. The Series of First Class Games Number 1 (Linden - N. 5051; Betts 27-23) First edition.
Following the Cambridge Springs (1904) tournament, where Marshall came out the victor and Janowski tied for 2nd, there was much interest in arranging a match between the two - not just for its intrinsic interest, but as a possible precursor to a challenge to Lasker. This came about in Paris from January 24-March 7, 1905. The conditions of the match were published in the British Chess Magazine for February, 1905:
"The stakes of 500 dollars each side to be deposited with the President of the Philidor Chess Club. The victory to be decided by attaining the score of eight won games, drawn games not counting. If the scores should be seven each, the match will be prolonged until one of the players wins ten games, which will then be decisive. If the scores come to nine each, the match will be declared drawn. Three games will be played each week, on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, from 1:30 p.m. to 6 p.m., and from 8:30 p.m. till midnight. Unfinished games will be resumed the next day at the same hours. The time limit is 30 moves in the first two hours, and 15 moves per hour afterwards."
Later, a clause was added allowing each player one postponement, Marshall taking advantage of this on February 4th due to a severe cold. The match was played in a small room at the Philidor Club of Paris to which only the players, their witnesses, and the director were admitted. Moves were displayed on a large board in the lobby for the public's behalf.
The play saw Marshall twice pop out to two-point leads, and Janowski come back to tie the score. Then Marshall popped out to a three-point lead, which soon settled the matter.
What had been a much anticipated rematch of Janowski - Marshall, Match 2 (1905) turned out to be a private affair, held at the house of noted chess patron Leo Nardus in the Parisian suburb of Suresnes from January 17-February 4, 1908. Marshall was never able to recover from losing the first two games, and Janowski scored the match by 5 games to 2, with 3 drawn.
Condition:
Number stamp on endpaper. Toned inside and bumped upper corners. Envelope somewhat faded. Spine repaired with strips of paper else very good.