Chess Books

Collection of Chess Books

Chess Bibliography

Artists Books on Chess

Old Chess Books (before 1945)

New Chess Books (since 1945)

Chess Bibliography

Betts, D. A.: Chess. An Annoted Bibliography of Works Published in the English Language 1850-1968. Boston, Hall, 1974.

Chicca, A. / Sanvito, A.: Lineamenti di una bibliografia Italiana degli scacchi. Roma, 1987.

Cleveland Public Library: John G. White Department. Catalog of the Chess Collection. 2 Vols., Boston, Hall 1964.
The chess book collection is expanding steadily. Also some artists books by Elke Rehder recently have been included into the John G. White Collection.

Gay, J.: Bibliographie anecdotique du jeu des échecs. Paris, Gay, 1864.

Katalog över Stockholms Schachsällskap. Bibliothekskatalog. Stockholm, 1909 und 1951.

Knuttel, F.: Bibliotheca Van der Linde - Niemeijeriana. A Catalogue of the Chess Collection in the Royal Library The Hague. The Hague, 1955.
This is a list of chess book collection of the Royal Library in The Hague, originated from the library of Antonius van der Linde (1876), Meindert Niemeijer (1948) and the additions of Kruijswijk.
In this famous collection you'll find also the artists books by Elke Rehder. The artists book were published 1993 in the ELKE REHDER PRESSE, a small press edition in Barsbuettel near Hamburg in Germany. The Royal Library in The Hague shows a pictures of one of my prints on the website of the chess collection. The picture shows a woodcut to the chess story "The Royal Game" by Stefan Zweig. Here is the link to the pictures of the Koninklijke Bibliotheek

Lüders, Horst / Moehle, Christine: Der Kieler Schachkatalog. The catalogue from the collection of Schleswig-Holstein state library in Kiel has been published in 2000 in a small edition of only 300 copies.
The origin of this chess book collection goes back to the important chess book library of William Massmann and the extensive collection of Gerd Meyer in Lübeck. This catalog is a valuable addition to the already existing international standard bibliography of chess books. More Information about Horst Lüders you'll find on website of the Ken Whyld Association here Ken Whyld Association and Jurgen Stigter will create a Database of Chess Bibliography.

Niemeijer, Meindert: Catalogus van de Schaakboekerij.
The catalog was printed in Rotterdam in 1939. This Chess catalog was published in a small edition of 500 copies. But only a few copies survived, because 200 copies were destroyed in World War II.

Oettinger, Eduard Maria: Bibliotheca Shahiludii. Bibliotheque du jeu des echecs.
This is a very important chess bibliography. It's an alphabetical directory of all the works that have appeared in print. There is a reprint from 1974 after the edition from 1844 published by Engelmann in Leipzig.

Sacharow, N. I.: Schachmatnaja literatura SSSR. Bibliografija 1775 - 1966. Moscow, 1968.

Schmidt, L. C.: Dansk Skakkatalog. Kopenhagen, 1973.

Artists books on chess by Elke Rehder

Andres, Stefan

An den Tod ( to the death ). Single sheet print. Poem with a colour woodcut by Elke Rehder. Hand bound softcover. 20,5 x 30 cm. 2003. 100 numbered and signed copies and 450 only signed copies (550 total).

Fitzbauer, Erich

Schachspiel ( Game of Chess ). Single sheet print. First edition of this poem with one colour woodcut by Elke Rehder. Handbound softcover. 20 x 30 cm. 2001. 100 numbered copies signed by the author and the artist and 450 copies signed by the artist (550 total).

Heine, Heinrich

Ich bin ein wahnsinniger Schachspieler...( I am a mad chess player ... ) Colour woodcut by Elke Rehder with a short quotation from a Heine letter to his friend Christian Sethe from October 1816. Book printing on mould-made Lana paper. Size 42 x 29,6 cm, folded to 21 x 29,6 cm. 2006. Edition: 100 numbered and signed copies and 450 only signed copies (550 total).

Jünger, Ernst

Rehburger Reminiszenzen. Artist's book with an autobiographical text and 11 woodcuts by Elke Rehder. Handbound half leather binding with additional woodcuts on the cover boards and on the fly leaves. 32 pages, 25 x 35 cm. 1998. 100 numbered and signed copies.

Jünger, Ernst

Single sheet print after a quotation from my artist's book REHBURGER REMINISZENZEN with one woodcut. Handbound softcover. 19 x 26,5 cm. 1998. 60 numbered and signed copies.

Mrozek, Slawomir

Schach ( Chess ). Short story about living chess. In this story the chessmen are going to play their own game without the chess-player, like the figures in this illustrations. The artist's book contains six signed colour etchings by Elke Rehder. Luxury bookbinding by Christian Zwang, Hamburg. Full goat-leather binding. Slipcase. 24 pages, 25 x 25 cm. 1994. 30 numbered and signed copies.

Pfeffel, Gottlieb Konrad (1736 - 1809)

Das Schachspiel (The Game of Chess ). Poem with 7 woodcuts by Elke Rehder. Artist's book with a handmade brochure in Bugra-paper. 32 pages, 20 x 27 cm. 1997. 40 numbered and signed copies (60 total).

Special edition no. 1 - 20. Handbound half leather artist's book with two additional woodcuts on the boards. All woodcuts hand coloured.

Pfeffel, Gottlieb Konrad

Das Schachspiel ( The Game of Chess ). Single sheet print. Quotation from the poem with one hand-coloured woodcut by Elke Rehder. Handbound softcover. 19,5 x 27 cm. 1999. 60 numbered and signed copies.

Rasmussen, Roy

Schach dem König oder Heinrich Heine auf Helgoland und die Sage von Rodulf und Rumetrud. ( Check the King or Heinrich Heine on the Isle of Helgoland and the Legend of Rodulf and Rumetrud of the Brothers Grimm )
Artist's book with 4 coloured drawings by Elke Rehder. 42 pages with pictures in colour. Handmade brochure with painted cover boards. Size 15 x 21 cm. 2006. 30 numbered and signed copies.

Rasmussen, Roy

Heine, Hamburg und die Frauen. ( Heinrich Heine, Hamburg and the women )
Artist's book with 4 coloured drawings. 42 pages with pictures in colour, 4 original drawings by Elke Rehder und 12 pages from a letter by Heinrich Heine from 27. October 1816 to his friend Christian Sethe. Painted softcover with dust jacket. Size 17 x 28 cm. 2006. 30 numbered and signed copies.

Rehder, Elke

Schach - Gespräche mit Figuren. Chess-Talks with Chessmen
Graphic suite with 6 numbered and signed hand-coloured woodcuts by Elke Rehder. A fictive dialog with the chessmen on the chess board. 8 pages text. Text by Elke Rehder in first edition. 18 x 24 cm. 1999. 50 numbered and signed copies.

Rehder, Elke

Schach I ( Chess I ) . Graphic suite with 6 numbered and signed etchings by Elke Rehder. Handcrafted portfolio by the artist. 8 pages , 18 x 24 cm. 1995. 36 numbered and signed copies.

Rehder, Elke

Schach II ( Chess II ). Cassette with 8 numbered and signed colour woodcuts by Elke Rehder and one woodcut on the front board. Text brochure 32 pages with illustrations from the artist's sketchbook in facsimile. First edition. 38 x 49 cm. 2000. 80 numbered and signed copies.

Rehder, Elke

Schach - Ein Gesellschaftsspiel. ( Chess - A Parlour Game ). Artist's book with handwritten poems and 4 etchings in limited edition. Handcrafted by Elke Rehder with a paper object on the front cover. 24 pages, 20 x 27 cm. 1993. 20 numbered and signed copies.

Rehder, Elke

Schachanalogie ( Chess Analogy ). Artist's book with handwritten poems and 4 etchings in limited edition. Bookbinding by Christian Zwang, Hamburg. Paper object on front cover. Slip case. 24 pages, 20 x 27 cm, 1994. 40 numbered and signed copies.

Schmitt, Hans Peter

Folie. Single sheet print. First edition of this poem with one colour woodcut by Elke Rehder. Handbound softcover. Size 20 x 29,5 cm. 2000. 100 numbered copies signed by author and artist. 450 signed by the artist (550 total).

Stübner, Gerhard

Spieler Tod ( Players Death ). Single sheet print. Poem by Gerhard Stübner with one woodcut by Elke Rehder. Size. 21 x 30 cm. 2008. One of 90 numbered and signet copies. This first edition is also signet by the author.

Zweig, Stefan

Schachnovelle (The Royal Game or Chess Story). Portfolio to the chess novella by Stefan Zweig with 6 numbered and signed colour woodcuts by Elke Rehder on Dosabiki Masashi Japanese paper. Handcrafted portfolio. 5 pages with extracts from the story. Size 18 x 24 cm. 1996. 36 numbered and signed copies.

Zweig, Stefan

Schachnovelle (The Royal Game or Chess Story). Single sheet print. Quotation from the novella with one woodcut by Elke Rehder. Handbound softcover. Size 19,5 x 27 cm. 2002. One of 50 numbered and signed copies.

Zweig, Stefan

Schachwut ( Chess Rage ). Quotation from The Royal Game. Single sheet print. Quotation from the novella with one colour woodcut by Elke Rehder. Handbound softcover. Size 21 x 29,5 cm. 2007. One of 100 numbered and signed copies.

Selection of Chess Books before 1945

Abbe Durand / Preti, Jean: Strategie raisonnee des ouvertures du jeu d'echecs. Illustree de nombreux diacrammes. Paris u. London, Jean Preti u. Barthes and Lowell, 2. Edition 1867 in 2 Vol.

Agnel, H. R.: The Book of Chess. Containing the Rudiments of the Game, and Elementary Analyses of the Most Popular Openings. New York, Appleton & Co., 1850. First edition.
Das Schachbuch von Agnel enthält u. a. Staunton's Analysis of the King's and Queen's Gambits.

Basterot, B. de: Traité élémentaire du jeu des echecs. Avec cent parties de joueurs le plus célébres, précédé de mélanges historique, anecdotiques et littérairs. 2ème éd. Paris, Allouard 1863.

Bird, H. E.: Chess History and Reminiscences. London, Dean & Son. 1893. First edition.

Carrera, P. A.: Treatise on the Game of Chess. Containing Games of Odds, Various Openings of even Games... to which are added, the Art of Playing without Seeing the Board. Translated from the Italian by W. Lewis. London. Richardson & Triphook, 1822. First English Edition.

Cessole, J. da: Volgarizzamento de libro de'costumi e degli offizii de'nobili sopra il giuoco degli scachhi ( scacchi ). Milano, Ferrari, 1829.

Clules, W.: The Philosophy of Chess. London. Whittaker, 1857. First edition.

Delaire, H.: Les échecs modernes. Histoire Théorie complète. 2 tomes. Paris, La strategie, 1925.

Derval, M. Paul (preface, introduction): Une vraie Folie. Superspectacle en 2 actes et 40 tableaux de Michel Gyarmathy. Grande production de Paul Derval ( directeur des Folies-Bergere ). Mise en scene de Michel Gyarmathy. Adaption musicale de Pierre Larrieu. Preface by Paul Derval with printed signature. Detailed description of the two acts. Starting with the first act "Le jeu d'echecs polychrome " / A polychromed Chess Game / Buntes Schach-Spiel ( Schachspiel ) Paris, Folies Bergere, not dated (around 1952 ). Format 13,5 x 21 cm. 32 not numbered pages with numerous pictures of the artists and advertising of that time. Softcover. Text french. On the back cover with an advertising for Aperitif Cocktail " St. Raphael quinquina, Les Arcs ". Printed in red and black in the style of Charles Coupot.

Fiske, W.: Chess Tales and Chess Miscellanies. London, Longmans Green & Co., 1912.
(a collection from Chess Monthly).

Forbes, D.: The History of Chess from the Time of the Early Invention of the Game in India, till the Period of its Establishment in Western and Central Europe. London, Allen, 1860. First edition.

Hunneman, W.: Chess. A Selection of Fifty Games, from those played by the Automaton Chess-Player during its Exhibition in London 1820. London, Maxwell, 1820. First edition.

Jaenisch, C. F. de.: Traité des applications de l'analyse mathématique au jeu des échecs. 3 in 1 tom. St. Petersburg 1862.

Kennedy, W. A.: Waifs and Strays. Chiefly from the Chess-board. London, Booth, 1862.

Kieseritzky, L.: Chinquante parties jouées au cercle des échecs et au Café de la Régence. Paris, Café de la Régence, 1846.

Lasker, Emanuel: Common Sense in Chess. Gesunder Menschenverstand im Schach. 2 Bände. London Bellairs 1896 und Berlin Wertbuchhandel 1925.

Löwenthal, J.: Murphy 's Games of Chess: Being the best games played by the distinguished champion in Europe and America. London, George Bell and Sons, 1890.
With analytical and critical notes by J. Löwenthal, President of the St. James's Chess Club and editor of chess columns.

MacDonnell, G. A.: Chess Life-Picture, containing Biographical Sketches, Caissana and Character-Sketches. London, Kelly 1883.

Montigny, M. de: Les stratagèmes des échecs ou collection des coups d'échecs plus brillant et les plus curieux. 2 tomes. Paris, Straßburg, König, 1802.

Murray, Harold J.R.: The History of Chess. Oxford, Clarendon Press 1913.

Philidor: Chess Rendered Familiar by Tabular Demonstrations of Various Positions and Movements. London, Baldwin Cradock & Joy, 1819.

Sarratt, J. H.: A new treatise on the game of chess. General rules, explanations, notes and examples. 2 Bde. (in 1). London 1821. Van der Linde 2261

Severino, Marco Aurelio: La Filosofia overo il Perche degli Scacchi. Napoli, Antonio Bulifon, 1690. first edition.

Staunton, Howard (1810 - 1874): The Chess-Player's Handbook. A popular and scientific introduction to the game of chess. With an alphabetical list of the princial openings and a bibliography, by R. F. Green. London: Bell & Sons. The first edition is from 1847.

Tomlinson, Ch.: Amusements in Chess. London, Parker, 1845. First edition.

Trevangadacharya Shastree. Essays on Chess. Adapted to the European Mode of Play. Consisting Principally of Positions or Critical Situations. Translated from the Original Sanscrit. Bombay, Cruz, 1814. First English Edition.

Walker, G.: Chess and Chess Players. Consisting of Original Stories and Sketches. London, Skeet, 1850. First book edition. Some stories were earlier published in Frasers Magazine.

Selection of Chess Books after 1945

Chernev, I. / Reinfeld, Fr.: The Fireside Book of Chess. New York, Simon & Schuster, 1949. First edition.

Hochberg, Burt (Hrsg.): The 64-Square Looking Glass. The Great Game of Chess in World Literature. New York, Times Books, 1993.

Polgar, Laszlo: Chess Endgames / Schach Endspiele / Echecs les finales / Ajedrez finales de partida / Sakk-vegjatekok. 171 types in 4560 positions / 171 Kategorien mit 4560 Stellungen / 171 types de positions en 4560 exemples / 171 tipos en 4560 posiciones / 171 tipus 4560 pozicioban. Köln, Könemann, 1999. ISBN 3829005075. 1159 pages.

Polgar, Laszlo: Chess Middlegames. Schach Mittelspiele 77 Kategorien mit 4158 Stellungen / Echecs le milieu de jeu / Ajedrez el medio juego / Sakk-Közepjatekok. Köln, Könemann, 1998. ISBN 3895086835. 1015 pages.

Polgar, Laszlo: Reform-Chess, Reformschach. Köln, Könemann Verlag, 1997. ISBN 3895082260. 495 pages.

Salzmann, J.: The Chess Reader. The Royal Game in the World Literature. New York, Greenberg, 1949. First edition.

Suetin, Alexei: Caro-Kann Defence ( CaroKann Chess ). London, Batsford, (1988). Revised and updated edition. ISBN 0713459395. 159 pages with numerous diagramms. Original softcover.

Zweig, Stefan: Schachnovelle (The Royal Game or Chess Story). With woodcuts by Elke Rehder. Freiburg / Br., 2004. 108 p. 25 x 15.5 cm.
Reprinting of the German text from the Bermann-Fischer Verlag, Stockholm 1943, having consulted the first edition, published Pigmalion, Buenos Aires 1942. Layout according to specifications set by Ulrike Erber-Bader. The letterpress printing and the printing of the six woodcuts from the original blocks was done in the workshops of the Fischbach Press, Texing, Austria. Font: Rialto. Paper: Old Zerkall noble white Burgundy. Bookbinding: Thomas Zwang, Hamburg, using a hand-made paper from Gangolf Ulbricht in Berlin. The edition is 100 copies. Each book is numbered and signed by the artist Elke Rehder.
This book dedicated Ulrike Erber-Bader to the participants of the 105 Annual Meeting of the Gesellschaft der Bibliophilen (Society of Bibliophiles) in Frankfurt am Main, June 2004.
The small limited edition is very rare. There are copies in international collections and libraries.