Le Jeu d'échecs lois fondamentales & reglement commentaires sur les règles existantes essais théoriques sur les ouvertures avec une nouvelle classification recueil des parties jouées: Entre les plus forts joueurs de l'epoque au grand Tournoi International de 1867

Description:

xcii+480 pages with diagrams, tables, errata, and index of problem composers. Octavo (9" x 5 3/4") rebound with original wrappers bound in. Analysis by Gustav Richard Neumann and Jules Arnous de RivieÌre. Includes numerous chess problem compensations. (Bibliotheca Van der Linde-Niemeijeriana:5195) First edition.

Paris, the French capital, was host to a world's fair exhibition in the summer of 1867. Among the enormous buildings erected to house new developments in science, technology (of which the Krupp Cannon was the most impressive display), and art, a master chess tournament was organized from June 4th to July 11th. It was held at the Grand Cercle, 10 boulevard Montmartre, not far from the 1.2 kilometer row of machinery for the exhibition.

Thirteen chess masters were invited to participate in double rounds, with a time limit of six minutes per move and draws counting as zero for both players. The participants included Ignat Von Kolisch from the Austrio-Hungarian empire, Wilhelm Steinitz and Sam Loyd playing on behalf of the United States of America, Symon Winawer and Hieronim Czarnowski from Poland, Gustav Neumann from Germany, Cecil Valentine De Vere from England, Jules De Riviere, Samuel Rosenthal, Emile D'Andre, and Eugene Rousseau from France, Celso Golmayo Zupide from Cuba, and Martin Severin From from Denmark. There was no formal organization to international events at the time, so beyond the matches and time controls being set, players seemingly encountered one another during the tournament according to availability and inclination. The prize purse was distributed among the top six finishers, with Kolisch earning 5000 Francs for first place, Winawer 2500 Francs for second, Steinitz 2000 Francs for third, Neumann and De Vere 1500 Francs each for fourth and fifth places, and De Riviere 1000 Francs for sixth. The top four finishers also received a Sèvres vase as an additional prize. Kolisch immediately liquidated his antique porcelain and invested in real estate which soon made him an extremely wealthy man, allowing him to be a generous patron to chess for decades afterwards.

Condition:

Rebound with original wrappers bound and facsimile laid on cover, heavy foxing through out, wrappers corners chipped, notes to half title else about very good.