LE ROYAL ET NOUVEAU JEU DES ESCHETS

Le Royal et Nouveau Jeu des Eschets, avec son Invention, Science et Pratique, Ou par un tres-docte & intelligible discours, sont amplement décrits les moyens d'ordonner son Jeu, tant pour l'offensive que defensive. LOPEZ DE SIGURA, R.R.). Book Description: Paris, Antoine de Rafflé, 1674. Rare seventeenth century French adaptation of the famous treatise on chess by Ruy Rodrigo Lopez de Sigura, first published in Spain in 1561 under the title "Libro de la Invencion Liberal y Arte del Juego del Axedrez". The French adaptation was probably made by the publisher, Antoine de Rafflé. In the early days chess was called a "royal game", a game for Kings. The games are here not set out on the board, but fully written out in text, like: "Le b. iouant le pion du Roy tant qu'il va; si le n. ioue le mesme, etc." (White playing the pawn of his King as far as it goes; if Black does the same, etc.). The French adaptator assures his readers that when they have played all the games described, they will be accomplished chess-players. Cat. Schaakboekerij Niemeijer 1613; Bibl. Van der Linde-Niemeijeriana 371.