Greco, Gioacchino (c. 1600-c. 1634) The Royall Game of Chesse-Play.

Description:

Greco, Gioacchino (c. 1600-c. 1634) The Royall Game of Chesse-Play. London: Printed for Henry Herringman, and are to be sold at his shop at the sign of the Anchor, 1665. First edition in English, octavo, portrait frontispiece of Charles I, woodcut border of title cropped along two edges, woodcut of a chessboard on page 14, bound in later speckled calf, rebacked, some water staining, affecting mostly the last three signatures, 5 3/4 x 3 1/2 in.

Greco was a famous professional chess player of the Italian romantic style. His model games are still used for teaching. He pioneered the first smothered mate (a checkmate delivered by a knight in which the mated king is unable to move because he is surrounded, i.e. or smothered by his own piece),came up with a clever queen sacrifice, and used the wrong rook pawn theme.

A8, a2, B-H8, I4, K1, (A1 blank, errata on verso of last leaf).
http://estc.bl.uk/R23418
Estimate $5,000-7,000


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