Emanuel Lasker | Three autograph manuscripts, including "Die Elemente des Schachs [The Elements of Chess]"

Emanuel Lasker

Three autograph manuscripts

(i) Autograph manuscript of "Die Elemente des Schachs [The elements of chess]"

beginning with an assessment of the value of games (“Der Wert des Spiels”), and including a description of the rules of the game (“Die Spielgesetze des Schach”), the opening position, the notation of games, the rules for moving each piece (“De Regeln der Beweglichkeit”), pawn promotion, capturing en passant, illegal moves, fundamental facts of the game (“Grundlegende Tatsachen”), the values of the pieces (“Die Werte der Figuren”), tactics, strategy, and many other matters, concluding with an extended series of reflections on chess and life (“Schach und Leben”), 2 volumes, 4to (203 x 170 mm), c. 82 pages, plus blanks, written mostly on rectos, autograph manuscript labels to each volume (“die Elemente des Schachs”, “Elemente des Schachs II.”), signed on the label to the first volume (“Em. Lasker / Lützowstr. 85B”), later pencil annotation by Lothar Schmid to blank first leaf of first volume, cloth-backed marbled boards, no place [Berlin?] or date, browning to edges, extremities worn

(ii) Autograph notebook containing observations on chess and notes for a lecture at the Lessing-Hochschule, Berlin, on conflict

beginning with two pages of pencil notes on the game of chess, entitled “Das Schachspiel”, followed by eighteen pages of notes for a lecture on conflict, entitled “Streit. Vortrag Lessing Hsch. 10^ten Feb.”, 20 pages, 4to (260 x 170 mm), autograph inscription on first page (“Von Malchen zum Geburtstag 1912. Angefangen den 13^ten Januar 1914 im Zuge nach Krummhübel [Karpacz]”), later pencil annotation to front free endpaper, diced roan gilt, gilt edges, Berlin and elsewhere, 1912-1914?, first gathering splitting at hinge, covers worn

(iii) Autograph notebook containing drafts for a 1921 lecture at the Lessing-Hochschule, Berlin, on happiness (“Das Glück”)

A substantial, multi-layered manuscript, in six numbered sections (“I. Alte Theorien vom Glück…II. Was ist das Glück? Es wohnt in der Phantasie…III. Gesetze im Reich der Phantasie. IV. Wie erringe ich Glück?...V. Neue Leitsätze über Genuss, Arbeit, Glückzüchtung. VI. Der glücklichste Mensch: Der sittliche Kämpfer, der an das Walten überragender Kräfte, an Wahrheit und Gerechtigkeit unerschütterlich glaubt.”), with autograph title page (“Das Glück. / Vortrag Okt 1921 Lessing Hochschule”), containing extensive cancellations and revisions, c. 106 pages, plus blanks, including an inserted loose bifolium, 4to (250 x 163 mm), original wrappers, later pencil annotations to title and lower pastedown, [Berlin?,] October 1921, covers chipped and worn, old repairs to covers and spine with translucent adhesive tape, browning

Lasker was the author of a number of books on chess, including the classic 1925 Lehrbuch des Schachspiels (Manual of chess), one of the greatest guides to the game ever written. The exact relationship of the first manuscript to Lasker’s other publications cannot be determined here (the initial chapter of the Lehrbuch is also entitled ‘The elements of chess’). That the final section of the first manuscript is a series of observations on ‘chess and life’ is entirely characteristic of Lasker the supreme philosopher-chess master. The third manuscript here illustrates his deep interest in purely philosophical matters, and dates from the year (1921) which saw him relinquish his title of World Chess Champion to the Cuban Capablanca.