Beschreibung:

AUGUSTINUS II (1579-1666, Duke of Brunswick-Luneburg). Das Schach- oder König-Spiel ... Diesem ist zu ende angefüget ein sehr altes Spiel genandt Rythmo-Machia . Leipzig: printed by Lorentz Kober [for the author] and on sale at Henning Grosz the younger, 1616. Chancery 2° (268 x 176 mm.). Mostly Gothic types. With letterpress half-title, engraved pictorial title-border, engraved pictorial divisional title-borders, double-page engraved plate of two noblemen playing chess and two companions looking on, two double-page engraved plates of rithmomachy positions, numerous engraved diagrams (a few slightly cropped at foot) and illustrations of chessmen, one letterpress table, printer's woodcut device. (Light browning). Contemporary German vellum. Provenance : Otto von Ompteda (inscribed to him and signed by the Duke); Heinrich Angst von Regensberg (armorial bookplate dated 1901). FIRST EDITION, FIRST ISSUE OF THE MOST HANDSOMELY PRODUCED CHESS BOOK OF THE BAROQUE PERIOD. "This work is a translation of Tarsia's Italian version of Ruy Lopez, but the Duke has made large additions of an historical character, which make his book of value." (Murray p. 852). August II distinguished himself even more as a book collector than a chess historian; the Herzog August Bibliothek is today one of the greatest libraries and bibliographical research centres in Europe. PRESENTATION COPY, inscription signed by the author: Author benevolentiae ergo, dono dedit nobili viro, Ottoni ab Ompteda, Eg. Lunaeburguo = Frisio 1620 . Apart from being a serious historical work, incorporating chess analysis of some industry, Das Schach- oder König-Spiel was also a vanity publication; it is therefore not surprising that a number of presentation copies are recorded. A FINE AND COMPLETE COPY. Van der Linde I, 350.