Stefan Zweig | Schachnovelle, Buenos Aires, 1942, one of 50 deluxe copies numbered in roman numerals, inscribed by Zweig's agent and translator Alfredo Cahn

Stefan Zweig

Schachnovelle. Buenos Aires: Verlag Janos Peter Kramer, 1942

8vo (192 x 130 mm), no. XLIII of 50 deluxe copies numbered in roman numerals published by Janos Peter Kramer, publisher's cloth, slight splitting between gatherings, some wear to binding, cloth splitting at spine

INSCRIBED BY ALFREDO CAHN, ZWEIG'S AGENT, TRANSLATOR, AND FRIEND: "Meinem lieben Günther Bellin, Dank für | deine Mitarbeit an dieser Ausgabe der [Schachnovelle] | Alfredo Cahn | 8/9/43". Cahn had received the manuscript of Schachnovelle, Zweig's last publication, a few hours before the author's suicide in 1942. The novel would appear in print six months later, thanks to Cahn's efforts.

The deluxe edition, bound in linen and published by Janos Peter Kramer, had a total print run of 300 copies, of which 50 copies (including the present copy) are numbered in roman numerals. The standard edition of 250 copies (for which see previous lot) was published by Pigmalion.

One of Stefan Zweig's best-known novellas, Schachnovelle was written in 1941, combining themes of chess and psychology, whilst taking inspiration from the game between Alekhine and Bogoljubow in Pistyan, 1922.