Author: Kagan, Bernhard (1866-1932) signed by Geza Maroczy
Year: 1915
Publisher: B Kagan Verlag
Place: Berlin
Description:
65+[xvi] pages with diagrams and tables. Octavo (8 3/4" x 6") rebound in green cloth with gilt label. Signed by Geza Marcoczy. (Bibliotheca Van der Linde-Niemeijeriana: 1311). First edition.
Essays on various aspects of the game of chess with Schacherinnerungen und biographishe Notizen aus neinem Leben (Reminiscences of My Chess Career).
Geza Marcoczy was a leading Hungarian chess master, one of the best players in the world in his time. He was also a practicing engineer. He won the "minor" tournament at Hastings 1895, and over the next ten years he won several first prizes in international events. Between 1902 and 1908, he took part in thirteen tournaments and won five first prizes and five second prizes. In 1906 he agreed to terms for a World Championship match with Emanuel Lasker, but political problems in Cuba, where the match was to be played, caused the arrangements to be canceled. After 1908, Maróczy retired from international chess to devote more time to his profession as a clerk. He worked as an auditor and made a good career at the Center of Trade Unions and Social Insurance. When the Communists came briefly to power he was a chief auditor at Educational Ministry. After the Communist government was overthrown he couldn't get a job. He did make a brief return to chess after World War I, with some success, and today the Maróczy bind bears his name. At the turn of the year 1927/8, he demolished the 1924 champion of Hungary, Géza Nagy, in a match by +5−0=3. With him at the head, Hungary won the first two Chess Olympiads in London (1927) and The Hague (1928).
Condition:
Previous owner's name title verso, paper slightly aged, occasional marginalia else a very good copy.
SOLD 2017