Author: Monroe, J from the library of James J Barrett
Year: 1859
Publisher: Charles Scribner and Sampson Low, Son & Co
Place: New York and London
Description:
[4]+xiv+[15]-281 pages with diagrams. Small octavo (7 1/2" x 5 1/2") issued in dark brown cloth with embossed chess men and decoration on covers, embossed pictorial and gilt lettering to spine. From the library of James J Barrett (Betts: 10-13)(Hagedorn: 53) First edition.
Covers the elements, laws, basic mates, basic endgames, openings (a survey pages 143-184), forming a plan (with illustrative games) and problems (35 various with solutions, pages 267-279)
This work is dedicated to Lieutenant General Scott. It is written with a considerable display of learning, metaphysical or otherwise. The nomenclature and phraseology are sometimes very curious. We notice some remarkable errors in spelling, such as Guioco instead of Giuoco, Del Rio for Del Rio, etc. The author has also fallen into some bibliographical errors, in his Introduction and elsewhere, such as mistaking Ponziani's work for Del Rio's treatise. (Fiske XXXVI)
James J. Barrett wrote a few chess columns in the Buffalo area. In a chess magazine being on page 1 of the March 1948 Chess Review: he wrote a letter of complaint about the magazine's choice of front-cover photographs. He played a substantial role in Paul Morphy The Pride and Sorrow of Chess by David Lawson (New York, 1976), and in the Acknowledgments (page vii) Lawson wrote, "I wish particularly to express gratitude for the suggestions and generous help of James J. Barrett, with special reference to the selection, preparation, and proofreading of the games."
Condition:
Recased with original spine laid on. Book plate of Edward W Owen on front paste down, and book plate of James J Barrett on back paste down, some pencil notes to front end paper else a very good copy of a scarce title.
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