[Rarebooks] FS: 1819 Chess with Fore-Edge Painting

[Clare Murphy]

PHILIDOR [FRANCOIS ANDRE DANICAN].  CHESS RENDERED FAMILIAR BY 
TABULAR DEMONSTRATIONS OF THE VARIOUS POSITIONS AND MOVEMENTS, AS 
DESCRIBED BY PHILIDOR. WITH OTHER CRITICAL SITUATIONS AND MOVES AND A 
CONCISE INTRODUCTION TO THE GAME. WITH A FINE FORE-EDGE PAINTING. 
London: Baldwin, Cradock & Joy, 1819. Edited by Pohlman. Illustrated 
by hundreds of figures of chess moves and frontispiece after Thomas 
Uwins of two chess players.. Beautiful period binding of 
straight-grained morocco with gilt rules and florals to boards and 
embossed center design.Heavily decorated spine withgilt title and 
place and date. Deep inner dentelles of floral gilt with moire 
pastedown and end paper. All edges gilt. (8vo) 9 1/2 x 5 3/4. [[10] 
449 pgs] Fine. This fore-edge painting depicts two jolly bewigged 
chess players in a cozy room with bookcases in the background. One is 
happily snorting snuff. Definition of fore-edge painting: "A scene 
painted on the fore edge of a book, either with the edge solid so 
that the resultant painting is visible with the book closed, or, in 
the more accepted use of the term, with the edge fanned out so that 
the painting is not visible with the book closed. When the painting 
is done with the leaves fanned out, the edge is generally also gilded 
or marbled in the usual manner, so that the closed book shows no 
trace whatsoever of the painting". This edge is gilded and the 
painting invisible until fanned out. A desirable book made more so by 
a fine painting. Condition: minor rubbing, else fine.   $2500.00

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Clare Murphy
Payson Hall Books
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Watertown, MA 02472
USA

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payson at oldbooks.com

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