The Game of Draughts. The Ninth Annual Tournament for the Championship of England, Held in London, April, 1907. The 240 Games of the Tournament....
Bristol: J.A. Kear, Jr., 1907. Hardcover. 8vo. Rebound in black cloth with gilt front board lettering. 96pp. Frontispiece, illustration, checkerboard graphics. Near fine. Text block faintly age toned. Item #52420
Handsome and tight first edition of this blow-by-blow chronicle of the English championship, with portrait of winner Alfred Jordan (1870-1926) and his trophies as frontispiece. Personal copy of Tom Wiswell (1910-98), for many years the World Free-Style Checker Champion and author of many checkers how-to books, with his name/address inkstamp on rear pastedown. He boldly inscribes and signs the front flyleaf in black ink: "7-19-51 / To my good friend, / J.R. Stevenson / with kindest regards for / your interest & support -- Sincerely -- / Tom Wiswell / Indianapolis, Ind." Stevenson was a mover-and-shaker in the American checkers world and president of the Indiana State Checker Association. Front pastedown bears the small gold foil printed name/address label of the "John Caldwell-Irving Windt Library of Checkers" of Dubuque, Iowa. An unusual copy of a scarce title. CALL 224.
Price: $95.00