A Selection of Games at Chess, actually played by Philidor and his contemporaries; now first published from the original manuscript

George Walker (1803-1879)

Published by Sherwood, Gilbert & Piper, London, 1835

About this Item

xvi+110 pages with frontispiece and illustrations. Small octavo (7" x 4 3/4") bound in original publsihers green cloth with label to front cover. With notes and additions by George Walker. Provenance gift inscription to Birmingham Chess Club on title. Subsequently reprinted, without notes, in Walker's Chess Studies (1844). Whyld & Ravilious: 1835:4) First edition. As a writer on the game, George Walker's reputation was European. His first publication, a pamphlet of twenty-four pages, on New Variations in the Muzio Gambit (1831), was followed in less than a year by his New Treatise, which gradually supplanted the chess Studies of Peter Pratt (1803, &c.) and the far from thorough Treatise by J. H. Sarratt (1808) as amended by William Lewis in 1821; of the New Treatise a German version went through several editions. Walker's style was bright and often witty. To later editions was appended an excellent bibliography; but this has been almost entirely superseded by the Schachlitteratur of A. Van der Linde (1880). Walker's fine chess library was dispersed by Sotheby on 14 May 1874 (Westminster Papers, 1 May 1874). He was also a benefactor to the cause of chess as a founder and promoter of clubs, notably the Westminster Chess Club (1832â 1843), famous as the battle-ground of Macdonnell and Labourdonnais, and of Popert and Staunton, and its successor in reputation, the St. George's Club, which still flourishes. Condition: New spine, corners bumped, front cover label soiled with wear to edges, some light foxing. A very good copy. Seller Inventory # BOOKS001077

Bibliographic Details

Title: A Selection of Games at Chess, actually ...

Publisher: Sherwood, Gilbert & Piper, London

Publication Date: 1835

Binding: Hardcover

Condition: Very Good

Edition: 1st Edition