Very Early American Chess Book

(CHESS). An Easy Introduction to the Game of Chess; Containing One Hundred Examples of Games...including the whole of Philidor's Analysis, with Copious Selections from Stamma, the Calabrois, &c. Arranged on a New Plan...Chess and Whist compared; Anecdotes respecting Chess and Chess-players, &c. A New Edition. Philadelphia: M. Carey, September, 1817. 8vo. 282 pp. Contemp. boards, spine broken; uncut. $350.00

S & S 40720 (two copies). The Imprints Survey records a catalogue listing of an 1805 edition of our title only. Thus, our rare edition may be the first available. The first chess book published in America, according to Kane, was 1802 (three copies recorded by the Imprints Survey). With a catalogue of Carey publications, dated Sept. 1817, bound in front. Lacking the folding plate.