"Observations upon a new treatise of chess, by George Walker" is the title
of a pamphlet which ridicules the alterations to the laws of chess proposed
in Walker's "New treatise on chess", 1841.

According to Staunton, the pamphlet emanated from the London Chess Club.

Has anyone seen a copy, please, or know where one can be seen?

Thanks and regards,

John Townsend,
Howard Staunton Research Project:
http://www.johntownsend.demon.co.uk/...es\Page324.htm

"John Townsend" wrote in message
...
"Observations upon a new treatise of chess, by George Walker" is the title
of a pamphlet which ridicules the alterations to the laws of chess
proposed
in Walker's "New treatise on chess", 1841.

This is not to contradict you, but just to note that another date for that
publication is 1832 //Sunnocks. This is not a typo, [since she gives the
date twice in different contexts and on different pages] but may be an
error? I'll look for any correlating dates from other sources - She also
adds that Walker founded the Westminister chess club.

According to Staunton, the pamphlet emanated from the London Chess Club.

No clues from Sunnucks, and I rather doubt the the Liverpool Mercury have
digitized their archive, but London papers of the time may have carried
reports or even verbatim copy. I think Spectator was in existance at the
time? Ask Ray Keene who currently has a column there.

Has anyone seen a copy, please, or know where one can be seen?

I also struck out with Falkener's book from 1892, who does not even mention
Walker, though he does bracket the date with other significant chess
publications, with Christie 1801, Gallus Becker 1838, Van Oppen in
"Schachzeitung" 1847, Herbert Coleridge 1855 and in Forbes' history 1860,
de Fouquieres 1869. ~ though these are all chess historians.

On to Eales:
who does say "Whereas the last important English editon of the /Analyze/
was George Walker's in 1832, there were 20 edition in Spanish 1832-1930
he gives date Westminister club 1831, there is an interesting ref also
to the Divan [where is that archive] since it held 'the leading chess
publications'
Walker's business was orig. in publishing and AH! "He began the first
popular chess column in 1835, in /Bell's Life in London./
There are also editions of his attempted chess publication, the
/Philidorian/ 1838.

Eales AFFIRMS the 1832 date for /The Treatise/ 'at the then unheard of
price of three shillings and sixpence, with an improved edition of 5
shillings.' [this ref indicates it was inexpensive, but there was strong
price cutting competition from a rival].

Another potential clue from Eales is by way of Staunton, and The Great
Exhibition, 1851. Though it seemed Walker wanted to boycott Stuanton's
efforts, and he wrote why in Bell's Life.

You might also research, The Chess Player's Chronicle, which folded in
1862.

This, alas, exhausts all easy references.

Cordially, Phil Innes

Thanks and regards,

John Townsend,
Howard Staunton Research Project:
http://www.johntownsend.demon.co.uk/...es\Page324.htm

Thanks for reply from "Chess One".

No doubt about the date of the pamphlet. "Observations upon a new treatise
of chess, by George Walker" was published in 1841. Its recent appearance is
noted in the Chess Player's Chronicle during 1841.

Thanks and regards,

John Townsend,
Howard Staunton Research Project:
http://www.johntownsend.demon.co.uk/...es\Page324.htm

On Apr 8, 10:15 am, "Chess One" wrote:
"John Townsend" wrote in message

...

"Observations upon a new treatise of chess, by George Walker" is the title
of a pamphlet which ridicules the alterations to the laws of chess
proposed
in Walker's "New treatise on chess", 1841.

This is not to contradict you, but just to note that another date for that
publication is 1832 //Sunnocks.

Mr. Townsend may clarify this point himself, but it seemed rather
clear to me that he was *not* giving 1841 as the date of Walker's
treatise. Rather he gives that as the date of the _pamphlet_ making
"Observations" on Walker's treatise.

"Taylor Kingston" wrote in message
oups.com...
On Apr 8, 10:15 am, "Chess One" wrote:
"John Townsend" wrote in message

...

"Observations upon a new treatise of chess, by George Walker" is the
title
of a pamphlet which ridicules the alterations to the laws of chess
proposed
in Walker's "New treatise on chess", 1841.

This is not to contradict you, but just to note that another date for
that
publication is 1832 //Sunnocks.

Mr. Townsend may clarify this point himself, but it seemed rather
clear to me that he was *not* giving 1841 as the date of Walker's
treatise. Rather he gives that as the date of the _pamphlet_ making
"Observations" on Walker's treatise.

In fact, 1841 is the date of both. The treatise went through various
editions, the most recent of which had been a 1841 edition, which was the
object of the attack made in the pamphlet.

The pamphlet may be rare. I see no mention of it in the British Library
catalogue - assuming I am searching for it correctly .

John

On Apr 8, 12:44 pm, "John Townsend"
wrote:
"Taylor Kingston" wrote in message

oups.com...





On Apr 8, 10:15 am, "Chess One" wrote:
"John Townsend" wrote in message

...

"Observations upon a new treatise of chess, by George Walker" is the
title
of a pamphlet which ridicules the alterations to the laws of chess
proposed
in Walker's "New treatise on chess", 1841.

This is not to contradict you, but just to note that another date for
that
publication is 1832 //Sunnocks.

Mr. Townsend may clarify this point himself, but it seemed rather
clear to me that he was *not* giving 1841 as the date of Walker's
treatise. Rather he gives that as the date of the _pamphlet_ making
"Observations" on Walker's treatise.

In fact, 1841 is the date of both. The treatise went through various
editions, the most recent of which had been a 1841 edition, which was the
object of the attack made in the pamphlet.

Ah, thanks for the clarification, John.

The pamphlet may be rare. I see no mention of it in the British Library
catalogue - assuming I am searching for it correctly .

The only other likely source I can think of is the White collection
of the Cleveland Public Library. I know they have some definite
rarities -- I got Cluley's "The Philosophy of Chess" (1857), a rather
obscure work, from them a couple of years ago.

"John Townsend" wrote in message
...
"Taylor Kingston" wrote in message
oups.com...
On Apr 8, 10:15 am, "Chess One" wrote:
"John Townsend" wrote in message

...

"Observations upon a new treatise of chess, by George Walker" is the
title
of a pamphlet which ridicules the alterations to the laws of chess
proposed
in Walker's "New treatise on chess", 1841.

This is not to contradict you, but just to note that another date for
that
publication is 1832 //Sunnocks.

Mr. Townsend may clarify this point himself, but it seemed rather
clear to me that he was *not* giving 1841 as the date of Walker's
treatise. Rather he gives that as the date of the _pamphlet_ making
"Observations" on Walker's treatise.

In fact, 1841 is the date of both.

I understand the /reflet/ date of the latter pamphlet, but do not understand
how there can be 'no doubt' when two historians cite 1832 for the work
itself. Of course, historians may cite each other and perpetuate an original
error, but this would seem to be a /reasonable doubt/, no?, but rather than
quibble - Quick! Jump to Amazon where there is an edition of the original
book h/b for $10.

[republished 1946]

Comments: Publisher: Sherwood, Gilbert & Piper
Date of Publication: 1946
Binding: Cloth
Edition: FOURTH EDITION
Condition: Very Good
Description: 4-1/2" X 7" X 1" Woodcut frontispiece (chess board). Untrimmed
in original blindtooled cloth. missing the spine. NEEDS TO BE REBOUND. PART
OF THE BINDING EDGE IS IN THE BOOK AT PAGE 72/73. THE TEXT IS CLEAN BUT
BEGINNING TO YELLOW.

In looking around I did find a copy of Walker's Chess and Chess Players
1850. //Willis and Southeran /Strand. Cat No. 14500

Phil Innes

The treatise went through various editions, the most recent of which had
been a 1841 edition, which was the object of the attack made in the
pamphlet.

The pamphlet may be rare. I see no mention of it in the British Library
catalogue - assuming I am searching for it correctly .

John

Chess One wrote:

I understand the /reflet/ date of the latter pamphlet, but do not understand
how there can be 'no doubt' when two historians cite 1832 for the work
itself.

The first edition was published in 1832 -- according to Walker's own notice
in The Philidorian (p. 254), "New Treatise on Chess" was a 80 p 12mo. According
to the same notice, the second edition (no date, but must precede The Philidorian
itself, thus 1838 or earlier) was a 160 page small 8vo.

No doubt later editions added to that. But with such radical changes between the
first and second edition (an extra 80 pages, as well as an increase in page size),
actual contents becomes important: what edition has the contents that "Observations"
refers to? All of them? Or only the latest one?
--
Anders Thulin ath*algonet.se http://www.algonet.se/~ath

John Townsend wrote:

The pamphlet may be rare. I see no mention of it in the British Library
catalogue - assuming I am searching for it correctly .

It may be classified as ephemeral


John




--
Anders Thulin ath*algonet.se http://www.algonet.se/~ath