[Rarebooks] FS - Early chess book

[GREENFIELD BOOKS]

*BINGHAM, J. S. / Translated from the Italian of Dr. Ercole Dal Rio / 
Prefaced An Essay on the Origin of the Game by Eyles Irwin. /THE 
INCOMPARABLE GAME OF CHESS/*/./ /Developed after a new method of the 
greatest facility, from the first elements to the most scientific 
artifices of the game./

Printed for J. J. Stackpole, London. 1820. 8vo, pp. xv, 340.

Dal Rio (c. 1718-c. 1802), also known as "Del Rio", was an Italian 
lawyer, author and one of the "Modenese Masters". He was known as "the 
Devil who could never be beaten" and is considered to be the founder of 
the Italian School of Chess.This title was first published in Italy in 
1769, and is divided into three parts, the first of which is wholly 
theoretical, the second wholly practical, and the third has been reduced 
to twenty end games, or "situations". Our offering is the first English 
language edition, presented in a recent (and most pedestrian) re-bind in 
plain green buckram with new endpapers and stamped gilt spine lettering. 
It is a sturdy and serviceable binding but rather plain-looking (and we 
do not claim responsibility for it). Inscribed in pencil on the third 
preliminary blank page are the words: "E C (?) Dale / Dear Henry / I 
told you I had an old book on chess / it looks as dry as Hell to me but 
you might derive some hidden virtue / yours / E C (?) Dale". Ink 
signature at top of title page in 19th century "copper plate" 
handwriting: "Henry Bird, Philadelphia" (possibly the well-known 19th 
century English chess master, Henry Edward Bird [1830-1908], the author 
of the book "Chess History and Reminiscences"). No other markings to 
text, which is generally bright and in excellent condition for its age.

Price: $250.00.

Terms of sale: The price is in USD. Payment by check, credit card, or 
PayPal. Postage and packing charge within North American will be $10; 
overseas $25. Returnable within seven days of receipt if found to be not 
as described.

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