ADVERTISEMENT. A Catalogue of the Chess Collection of the late Professor George Allen scarcely requires an introduction to the attention of the friends of that accomplished gentleman or of persons interested in the subject to which the works described in it relate. The Library is the result of twenty-five years of devoted labour on the part of the learned collector of it, and justly enjoys the reputation of being, of its kind, the finest in America, and ranks with the three or four best similar ones in Europe and the world. It comprises about a thousand printed volumes, besides two hundred and fifty autograph letters, and fifty engravings and photographs. The principal TREATISES upon the Game are, of course, included in the Collection, and in the rarest editions as well as in those more readily obtained. There are copies of five of the first eight editions of Damiano-one of them, the earliest, not known to exist in any other private library-besides Gruget's version and Franz's and von der Lasa's modern one. There is a copy of Ruy Lopez in the very rare original Spanish edition of 1561 and one of the rare Italian translation of Tarsia, one of the first edition in French and three others of later dates. There are two copies of Selenus's "Schach-Spiel" and one of his curious "Cryptomenytices et Cryptographia", also "Selenus Contractus" and Hüttner's "Ludus Latrunculorum" of 1650. Of Greco's popular Treatise fourteen editions are represented, among them the English version of 1656 and the first French one of 1669. There are copies of the scarce "Libro" of Gianutio and of all three editions of Salvio's works. The extremely rare Italian Carrera is also here, and in a copy of peculiar interest as that from which the great chess-author Mr. Lewis made his translation of the work: of this there are two copies, one printed on large paper. There is a copy of Lolli, and there are five of Heinse's Anastasia, including one of the first edition and one in Dutch. Ponziani appears in as many as eleven editions good and bad. There are copies of Barbier's and Bertin's works. Of Stamma, the first and second and two later editions in French, the scarce first edition in English and Mr. Lewis's two subsequent ones, all the German editions, and the Italian one of Wunsch. The Treatises of Philidor occur in a multitude of editions collected with the greatest care by the painstaking Author of his "Life". There are seventeen copies in French, including three on large paper, one a subscribers' copy, eleven in English, ten in German, one in Danish, three in Dutch, three in Spanish and one in Russian; besides Pruen and Pohlman, two copies of Kindermann, nine of Pratt, and six of the "Easy Introduction": as well as a MS. copy of six blindfold Games, not known to exist in duplicate. A copy, formerly Mr. Lewis's, of Count Cozio's rare work. All five editions in French and German of the "Traité des Amateurs". Stein, both the original edition in French and that of Delarue, and one in Dutch. Van Zuylen van Nyevelt, in both French and Dutch. All the editions of Allgaier. Both editions of Koch's "Schachspielkunst”. Among more modern authors, three copies of Sarratt's "Treatise", one of the scarce first edition; besides his Translations from the earlier Masters of the Game. Well-nigh complete collections of Lewis's, Walker's and Staunton's manifold works, including several beautiful copies printed on large paper. La Bourdonnais in French and Russian. Alexandre's "Encyclopédie". All of Jaenisch's chief productions. Von Bilguer's "Handbuch" in all editions from 1843 to 1864, three copies on thick paper, and several presented by the editor. Six presentation copies of the "Leitfaden" and others of von der Lasa's works. Lange. Dufresne. "Chess made Easy". W. S. and Charles Kenny's books. Portius. Also a great many Introductory Treatises and others of less prominence. BOOKS OF GAMES are largely represented. There are two copies of Ringhieri's rare "Cento Giuochi", and one of Brunetti, on thick paper. The curious "Das Zeitkurzende Lust- und Spiel"La Maison des Jeux Académiques". Copies of nine editions |