Shelfmark
Ib2.3.11
Author
Title
An inquiry into the antient Greek game, supposed to have been invented by Palamedes, antecedent to the siege of Troy; : with reasons for believing the same to have been known from remote antiquity in China, and progressively improved into the Chinese, Indian, Persian, and European chess. Also, two dissertations: I. On the Athenian Skirophoria, II. On the Mystical meaning of the bough and umbrella, in the Skiran rites.
Publication, distribution, etc.
London : Printed by W. Bulmer and Co. Cleveland-Row, St. James's, for T. Becket, Pall-Mall, 1801.
Physical description
xvi, 169, [1] p., IV, [1] leaves of plates : ill. ; 28 cm. (4to)
Note
Colophon at foot of leaf X2r reads: Printed by W. Bulmer and Co. Cleveland-Row, St. James's.
Note
Errata at foot of leaf b4 verso.
Note
Text in English with quotations and examples in Latin and Greek.
Note
Signatures: [a]-b⁴ B-U⁴ X².
Note
"Appendix" contains: Of the Scythian rites (p. 89-95); A dissertation upon the Athenian Skirophoria ... (p. [97]-122); A second dissertation upon the mystical signification of the bough and the umbrella ... (p. [123]-169, including "Postscript": Of the religion of the Pelasgi). Each of these (except for the second, which has t.p. with engraved vignette not included in register) has divisional half-t.p. preceded by a leaf bearing end of text of the preceding section and engraved tail-piece, which is not included in register.
Note
Special illustrated title pages for parts of the main work read: [p. 1] Of the antient games of skill. Of the [petteía, triódion], and ludus latrunculorum; [p. 27] Of the mixed games of chance annd skill. Of the alveus and [plinthíon]; [p. 53] Of the Chinese, Indian, Persian, and European Chess. Of the [petteía], as known among the Chinese. These are included in pagination, but not in register.
Note
Three of the illustrations are by Henry Tresham. Cf. Pref.
Note
Published anonymously. By James Christie. Cf. Dict. nat. biog.
Provenance
Eton College bookplate.
Provenance
Ms. inscription on front flyleaf: "From the author to the Library of Eton College".
Binding
19th century red gold tooled morocco; bookbinder's label on front free endpaper verso reading:"Bound by C. Hering, No. 10 St. Martin Street, London".
Subject
Chess History.
Subject
Athens (Greece) Religious life and customs.
Subject
Greece Religion.
Added entry--name
Bulmer, William, 1757 - 1830 printer.
Added entry--name
Added entry--name
Becket, Thomas publisher.
Added entry--name
Added entry--name
W. Bulmer and Co. printer.
Added entry--place
England London.
Language code
eng lat grc
Identifier
B34735