Lot 74
Chess.- Damiano de Odemeira The Pleasaunt and wittie Playe of the Cheasts renewed, first edition in English, translated by James Rowbothum, Printed...by Roulande Hall, for James Rowbothum, 1562.
Hammer Price: £6,000
Description
Chess.- Damiano de Odemeira. [The Pleasaunt and wittie Playe of the Cheasts renewed], first edition in English, translated by James Rowbothum, printed in black letter, woodcut diagrams, lacking first and last gatherings (* and G, each 4ff.) and A1, title supplied in facsimile, some leaves in sig.B misbound, marginal damp-staining, inner margins repaired, modern calf, gilt spine with red morocco label, [STC 6214], 8vo, [Printed...by Roulande Hall, for James Rowbothum], 1562.
⁂ The first work in English on the game of Chess. Extremely rare. ESTC locates 4 copies in British Isles and 6 in N. America. Rare Book Hub cites the last copy at auction in 1967 although there was also a complete copy in the Richard Ford sale at Phillips in 1985 (£2,500 hammer) but none other since that we know of.
Included in this lot is a photocopy of an article in The Chess Collector, vol.IV no.2 on this work, its publishing history and rarity, by Michael Mark; and a EEBO editions softback facsimile of the work.
Despite its faults, this is an important book and reflects the new promotion of the Queen to "the best piece on the chessboard... because that the game is seldome wonne, after that she is once lost." A7v
Description
Chess.- Damiano de Odemeira. [The Pleasaunt and wittie Playe of the Cheasts renewed], first edition in English, translated by James Rowbothum, printed in black letter, woodcut diagrams, lacking first and last gatherings (* and G, each 4ff.) and A1, title supplied in facsimile, some leaves in sig.B misbound, marginal damp-staining, inner margins repaired, modern calf, gilt spine with red morocco label, [STC 6214], 8vo, [Printed...by Roulande Hall, for James Rowbothum], 1562.
⁂ The first work in English on the game of Chess. Extremely rare. ESTC locates 4 copies in British Isles and 6 in N. America. Rare Book Hub cites the last copy at auction in 1967 although there was also a complete copy in the Richard Ford sale at Phillips in 1985 (£2,500 hammer) but none other since that we know of.
Included in this lot is a photocopy of an article in The Chess Collector, vol.IV no.2 on this work, its publishing history and rarity, by Michael Mark; and a EEBO editions softback facsimile of the work.
Despite its faults, this is an important book and reflects the new promotion of the Queen to "the best piece on the chessboard... because that the game is seldome wonne, after that she is once lost." A7v
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