Author: Mikhail Moiseyevich Botvinnik (1911-1995) signed
Year: 1960
Publisher: Russian Chess Federation
Place: Moscow
Description:
One sheet cover with cancelled stamp and decorative chess board in black on. Commemorative cancel to stamp. Signed by Mikhail Botvinnik, in blue ink, dated by Botvinnik March 15, 1960.
Event covers are decorated, stamped and canceled commemorative envelopes. They are created to celebrate an event or note an anniversary. The design (called a "cachet") is generally placed on the left side of the envelope (although there are also "all over" cachets). It explains what is being commemorated on what date, and some times includes an illustration page. Ideally, the stamps used relate to the celebration. Cancels are either obtained in the city of the event. If a special cancellation (one with a design) has been created for the event, you can generally only receive that cancel from the local post office.
Mikhail Moiseyevich Botvinnik was a Soviet and Russian International Grandmaster and three-time World Chess Champion. Working as an electrical engineer and computer scientist at the same time, he was one of the very few famous chess players who achieved distinction in another career while playing top-class competitive chess. He was also a pioneer of computer chess. Botvinnik was the first world-class player to develop within the Soviet Union (Alekhine was a top player before the Russian Revolution), putting him under political pressure but also giving him considerable influence within Soviet chess. From time to time he was accused of using that influence to his own advantage, but the evidence is unclear and some suggest he resisted attempts by Soviet officials to intimidate some of his rivals. Botvinnik also played a major role in the organization of chess, making a significant contribution to the design of the World Chess Championship system after World War II and becoming a leading member of the coaching system that enabled the Soviet Union to dominate top-class chess during that time. His famous pupils include World Champions Anatoly Karpov, Garry Kasparov and Vladimir Kramnik.
The 1960 World Chess Championship was played between Mikhail Botvinnik and Mikhail Tal in Moscow from March 15 to May 7, 1960. Tal from Riga, Latvia returned from Moscow with the tile after defeating Botvinnik by 12.5 to 8.5 (6 wins, 2 losses, and 13 draws) in 1960. He was World Champion for one year after losing the Championship title back to Botvinnik in 1961.
Condition:
Light edge wear else a very nice copy.
SOLD 2023