CreateSpace Imprint, USA, 2009, in Greek language, paperback, 17,5χ25 cm, 164 pp, 380 grams, condition: fine.

The Book of Games manuscript, of which we only have one original copy - in the Escorial library in Madrid - was written over the course of several decades during the second half of the 13th century in Seville (not in Valencia) by order of King Alfonso X of Castile, also known as Alfonso the Wise, who was actually more of a kind of editor of the manuscript. It is a compendium of all sorts of games, beautifully illustrated with playing scenes from medieval life. The manuscript was probably not finished until after Alfonso's death in the year 1284. We do not know its original title, the words 'Libros del Axedrez, Dados et Tablas'  having been added to the cover page only in later years.

The book is structured around an ancient legend about an Indian king who asks his councellors the famous question whether the world is govered by fortuna (chance) or sapientia (reason). In other words: do we have a free will (symbolised in the book by the rule-govered game of chess) - or do we depend on destiny (symbolized by the game of dice)?