Gibier

Best.-Nr. 57992 — London: Printed for T. Boosey 1813. FIRST EDITION. 8vo. 21 x 13.5 cm. ppxviii3822 publishers adverts. Full contemporary calf rebacked spine ruled in blind and lettered in gilt sides with decorative gilt border. 2 black & white engravings illustrating chess-boards. Ex libris Adam Smith Annand with his armorial bookplate to front pastedown. Binding scuffed occasional light spotting heavier to prelims and endpapers generally a good solid copy. Jacob Henry Sarratt 1772 - 6 November 1819 was one of the top English chess players of the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Sarratt was renowned as a player and author and adopted the title "Professor of Chess". He was the first professional player to teach chess in England. He introduced into England the chess rule that a stalemate is a draw which was commonly used on the continent of Europe. He coined with his works of 1813 and 1821 the term Muzio Gambit. He was a pupil of Verdoni and later the teacher of William Lewis and Peter Unger Williams. Includes translations of Questo libro e da imparare giocare a schachi e de le partite 1512 by Damiano Libro de la invencion liberal y arte del juego del axedrez 1561 by Lopez and Il puttino 1634 by Salvio. Whyld and Ravilious 1813:2 London: Printed for T. Boosey, 1813. hardcover