DAMIANO (Pedro). Libro da imparare giocare a scachi et de le partite. [Venice, c. 1530]. Small octavo, later brown sheep over boards covered with decorated domino paper. [64] leaves, signatures: A–H8. Illustrated with a woodcut device on the title-page, six woodcut representations of chess pieces, and 92 woodcut chess diagrams, all in the text.

An uncommon bilingual Italian–Spanish edition, published after the 1524 issue, of this influential chess manual, which enjoyed widespread circulation throughout the sixteenth century, with nearly nine editions recorded. It contains the celebrated maxim: “If you see a good move, look for a better one.”

First published in Rome in 1512, this landmark work is regarded as the earliest Italian treatise devoted to modern chess. It offers a clear and systematic exposition of the game’s rules, logic, and strategy, supplemented by opening analyses, numerous chess problems, and an innovative method of board notation. The final chapter notably explains how to play blindfold chess. Its author, Pedro Damiano, a Portuguese apothecary who settled in Italy following the expulsion of the Jews from Portugal in 1496, ranks among the earliest theoreticians of chess and one of the principal figures in the codification of the game during the Renaissance.

A charming copy in a later binding, showing signs of wear, with some soiling and foxing, and leaves slightly trimmed.

With illegible contemporary manuscript ownership inscriptions.

DAMIANO (Pedro). Libro da imparare giocare a scachi et de le partite. [Venice, c. 1530]. Small octavo, later brown sheep over boards covered with decorated domino paper. [64] leaves, signatures: A–H8. Illustrated with a woodcut device on the title-page, six woodcut representations of chess pieces, and 92 woodcut chess diagrams, all in the text.

An uncommon bilingual Italian–Spanish edition, published after the 1524 issue, of this influential chess manual, which enjoyed widespread circulation throughout the sixteenth century, with nearly nine editions recorded. It contains the celebrated maxim: “If you see a good move, look for a better one.”

First published in Rome in 1512, this landmark work is regarded as the earliest Italian treatise devoted to modern chess. It offers a clear and systematic exposition of the game’s rules, logic, and strategy, supplemented by opening analyses, numerous chess problems, and an innovative method of board notation. The final chapter notably explains how to play blindfold chess. Its author, Pedro Damiano, a Portuguese apothecary who settled in Italy following the expulsion of the Jews from Portugal in 1496, ranks among the earliest theoreticians of chess and one of the principal figures in the codification of the game during the Renaissance.

A charming copy in a later binding, showing signs of wear, with some soiling and foxing, and leaves slightly trimmed.

With illegible contemporary manuscript ownership inscriptions.

In reasonably good condition
Full title : Libro da imparare giocare à scachi: et de belitissimi partiti: revisti, & recorretti. Con somma diligentia emendati, da molti famosissimi giocatori. In lingua spagnola, & taliana, novamente stampato

Binding:
Some soiling to the boards, including one small stain.
Small loss of material of a few millimetres to the edge and lower board, and a very minor insect gallery to the upper board.

Pages:
Sewing somewhat fragile in certain pages, particularly at the beginning and around the middle of the volume, with some paper reinforcements to certain gatherings.
Dampstaining and soiling to the leaves, more pronounced in places.
Title-page soiled and partially restored.
Leaves oxidised, some browned.
Soiling and some foxing to the leaves.
Very small insect galleries to certain leaves, not affecting the text.

Manuscript annotations to the title-page: “Damiano Portugheso, stampato in Roma nel 1524, [illegible line]”, and after the colophon: “Stampato in Roma nell’Anno 1524, Presso Antonio Bladi de Asula”.