More White Rooks (with "Merry Christmas" slip and "Chess Problem Club" 1st place prize inscription)

This is a unique, 1st prize presentation copy of the chess book, "MORE WHITE ROOKS" by Alain C. White with White's Christmas Greetings slip inserted at the front. 1911 1st edition; Office of "The Chess Amateur"; Stroud, UK. The book contains illustrations of chess board positions throughout. On the front end paper is a "First Prize" inscription written by Henry Tate, Vice President of the "Good Companions Chess Problem Club," to Club member Spencer Crakanthorp. Crakanthorp won the "Washington Birthday Solving Tournament" on February 22, 1920 - a problem solving competition held all over the world on George Washington's birthday - and was presented with this book as a prize for his victory. The book's author, Alain C. White, was an internationally renowned expert on chess. He collected one of the most comprehensive libraries on chess problems in the world. Between 1905 and 1936, he wrote or edited 44 annual volumes known as the "Christmas Series," which he sent to other chess enthusiasts; the volumes often contained a Christmas Greetings slip inside (the slip is present within this particular copy). The books were highly valued for their collection of diverse and challenging chess problems. They were initially sent as free gifts to friends of White, but they were also offered for sale. The books are considered a significant contribution to the world of Chess problems. Condition: Mottling to the cloth over much of the front cover, and a bit on the back cover. Tiny cloth tears at the top and bottom edges of the spine, and at the cover corners. There is a crack at the front hinge between the end paper and title page resulting in the front cover being shaky. The back cover is firmly attached. Mild foxing and smudges to the pages. First Prize gift inscription of the Chess Problem Club dated 1920 written in ink on the front end paper. Heavy tanning to the front and rear end papers. Overall the book is in Good- condition.…