Chess for Beginners; in a series of possible lessons; showing the most approved methods of beginning and ending game, with

viii+155 pages with colored diagrams including frontispiece. Duodecimo (6 1/4" x 5") bound in original publisher's green cloth with gilt lettering decoration to spine and front cover. (Whyld: 1846:7) Third edition, revised.

Lewis (1787-1850) a distinguished chess player and the author of numerous books on the subject. Each of the handsome plates depicts a chess board within an elaborate frame, all printed in green on white, with the opposing pieces printed in red and dark blue. This book may be “the first use of color printing in a nineteenth century book, in Britain, for a practical rather than an aesthetic purpose" Ruari McLean, VBDCP, p. 35; VPBBCL, p. 6.

James J. Barrett wrote a few chess columns in the Buffalo area. In a chess magazine beginning on page 1 of the March 1948 Chess Review: he wrote a letter of complaint about the magazine's choice of front-cover photographs. He played a substantial role in Paul Morphy The Pride and Sorrow of Chess by David Lawson (New York, 1976), and in the Acknowledgments (page vii) Lawson wrote, "I wish particularly to express gratitude for the suggestions and generous help of James J. Barrett, with special reference to the selection, preparation, and proofreading of the games."

Condition:

Corners bumped, extremities rubbed, book plate of Barrett on front paste down. A very good copy.