Alexandre, A(aron). Encyclopédie des échecs, first edition. 1837. Add to Watch List Watching View Watchlist >

Alexandre, A(aron). Encyclopédie des échecs, ou résumé comparatif en tableaux synoptiques des meilleurs ouvrages écrits sur ce jeu par les auteurs français et étrangers, tant anciens que modernes, mis à l'usage de toutes les nations par le langage universel des chiffres. Paris, D'Urtubie, Worms et al., 1837. First edition. Title page and 3 folding leaves (consisting of parellel colums in French, English, German and Italian) plus 51 double-page tables, and a final folding leaf. Bound in at rear is a double-page engraved prospectus printed on blue paper. L/N 1790; van der Linde II, 11; Schmid, pp. 99 ff.

Bound in following the title page is a 1-page autographed letter dated 12 May 1840, signed by the author, presenting this book to one Alexander Falkoner of Edinburgh. There is also a leaf of printed press reviews of the book.

This work contains, in 51 tables (without annotations), the majority of opening games from approximately 30 works by the leading authors of the time. The games are arranged and compiled in the manner used by Allgaier, namely in vertical rows side by side. The following games are included: Tables 1-10: the Bishop Game. Tables 11-25: the Knight Game. Tables 26-30: the Bishop Gambit and the unaccepted irregular gambits. Tables 31-41: the Knight Gambit. Tables 42-46: the Queen's Gambit. Tables 47-51: the regular openings. Finally, there is an overview of the various opening moves. Schmid writes about this work: "It is an indispensable book for all those who are concerned with the theory of opening games... because one can immediately see from it what has been written about each game up to now [1847]." The preface is printed in French, English, German, and Italian. 

Condition: From David DeLucia's Chess Library. Original gilt decorated 1/2 calf over embossed green cloth. Binding defect. Front and back lid are loose. Corners bumped.

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