The Chess Congress of 1862. A Collection of the Games Played, and a Selection of the Problems sent in for Competition

xcvi+536+[xxiv ad] pages with frontispiece, diagrams, tables and indices. Small octavo (7 1/2" x 5 1/4") rebound with original red cloth decorative blind stamped cover in a gilt chess board, spine lettering in gilt. An account of the proceedings and a "Memoir of the British Chess Association" by G W Medley. (Bohn's Scientific Library)(Betts: 25-4) Third edition, originally published in 1864. Published in the United States by Lippincott (Philadelphia) and Scribner (New York), but dates not ascertained. The "memoir" contains reports of the past meetings of the British Chess Association, the arrangements for the 1862 congress, a general account of the tournament. There follow the 177 games with brief notes, and 23 other games, including consultation games and a selection from the problem tourney, incorporating a number of self-mates and end-game studies. The tournament of 1862 had been promoted by the British Chess Association, whose history was as follows: Before modern traveling facilities were invented, it had been felt that country clubs were too much isolated. The members played with the same opponents year in and year out; they opted the style and peculiarities of their one best player; enjoyed few opportunities of measuring themselves with those outside their immediate circle, and scarcely knew what first-class play really was. This did not suit the views of the enthusiasts, and in 1840 a number of zealous Yorkshire players conceived the idea of mustering a number of clubs for what seemed to their minds a grand carnival - a whole day's play. Out of this was developed the Yorkshire Chess Association, and from it in due time the British Chess Association. The meeting of 1862 was the eight held under its auspices, the seventh having assembled at Bristol a year before. The minimum rate of play was slow, twenty moves in two hours, but yet it was enacted that the game shall be played out at a sitting. Time was measured by sand-glasses. The chess clock, which was first suggested by Blackburne, had not yet come into existence. For the first time, at this tournament, every player played at least one game with each competitor. The prizes were won by Adolf Anderssen (£100), Louis Paulsen (£50), John Owen (£30), George Alcock MacDonnell (£15), Serafino Dubois (£10) and Wilhelm Steinitz (£5) who was awarded the brilliancy prize for his win over Augustus Mongredien. Condition: Rebound with original boards laid on, previous owner's stamp to title else a very good copy.…