Gustavus Selenus [August II, Duke of Brunswick-Luneburg] | Das Schach- oder König-Spiel, 1616, first edition of the first chess manual in German, authorial presentation copy

Gustavus Selenus [August II, Duke of Brunswick-Luneburg]

Das Schach- oder König-Spiel... Von Gustavo Seleno. Leipzig: Henning Grosse (II) and Lorenz Kober, 1616

FIRST EDITION, folio (284 x 193 mm). Collation: π⁴ ):(⁴ (?)⁴ A–3H⁴ 3I⁶ 3K–3Q⁴: 262 signed leaves, double-page table on unsigned leaf bound before first divisional title, title-page and 5 further divisional titles each with engraved border, 3 double-page engraved plates (on unsigned leaves, bound after E1, 3M2, and 3M3), numerous engraved illustrations in-text, woodcut device at the end, woodcut initials, head- and tail-pieces, modern vellum in a period style, tooled with foliate borders, green ties, gilt gauffered edges, browning, washed, endleaves renewed

FIRST EDITION OF THE FIRST CHESS MANUAL IN GERMAN, AUTHORIAL PRESENTATION COPY TO AUGUST II'S BOOK-BUYER AND BANKER, the merchant Georg Forstenheuser (1584–1659). The authorial presentation inscription reads:

"Wir Augustus der Jünger, Herzog zu Braunschweig und Lüneburg, verehren dieses Schach-Buch auss gnediger Affection zur Gedechtnuss dem Erbaren, unserm lieben besonderen, Georgen Forstenheuseren, vornehmen Kaufherren in Nürnberg den 8 Marty… 1617" (We, Augustus the Younger, Duke of Brunswick and Lüneburg, bestow this chess book out of gracious affection unto our dear friend, Georg Forstenheuser, distinguished merchant in Nuremberg, on 8 March 1617).

August II, the author of the present volume, is known to have been in contact with the dedicatee since 1612, and appointed Forstenheuser to his council in 1623. August II was a remarkable polymath: he was the author of works on such subjects as mathematics and cryptography under the pen-name Gustavus Selenus, as well as several works on games. He is perhaps best known as a book collector; the Herzog August Bibliothek at Wolfenbüttel is one of Europe's greatest libraries. Forstenheuser, an active participant in the antiquarian book trade, was a significant figure in the establishment of the Duke's library.

This history of chess was based on Tarsia's Italian translation of Ruy López's 1561 Libro de la invencion liberal y arte del juego del Axedrez (see lot 42). As well as instructions about gameplay, the work includes woodcuts by Jacob van der Heyden illustrating contemporary German chess pieces. Owing to the popularity of the book, the style of chess sets pictured in these woodcuts — featuring elaborate, floral pieces — became known as "Selenus chess sets", after the author himself.

For an authorial presentation copy of the second edition of this work, see next lot.

PROVENANCE:

Georg Forstenheuser (1584–1659) on 8 March 1617, authorial presentation inscription to verso of title; twentieth-century bookplate of "E.H.L.K." to verso of title

LITERATURE:

USTC 2133665 (listing 15 institutional copies); VD17 12:652972E; Linde, Schachlitteratur 2936