The first section of the sale comprises books, manuscripts and objects from the Lothar Schmid collection, generally considered to be the finest chess library still in private hands. Notable volumes include the oldest surviving book on the game of chess, by Lucena (lot 56), scarce incunable editions of Cessolis' De ludo schachorum (lots 10–11), and a group of rare publications on the Automaton Chess Player: the purported Enlightenment predecessor of Artificial Intelligence (lot 2). Other outstanding items include Menzel's „Die Schachpartie“ (The Game of Chess), the eminent German Realist's first painting in oil (lot 82), and scoresheets from the most important chess match of the twentieth century (lot 64).

The subsequent section of the sale is an outstanding group of incunabula and early printing from a highly distinguished private collection, and the auction concludes with a fine selection of autograph letters from another important private collection.

For assistance with bidding and registration, please contact:

Bids.london@sothebys.com

(+44) 207 293 5283 (bids general line)

For sale enquiries please contact:

David Goldthorpe

Head of Books and Manuscripts, Europe

+44 (0)20 7293 5303

DAVID.GOLDTHORPE@SOTHEBYS.COM

Gabriel Heaton

Director, Specialist | Books & Manuscripts

+44 20 7293 5670

GABRIEL.HEATON@SOTHEBYS.COM

William Passey

Associate Specialist, Books & Manuscripts

+44 (0) 7515 608291

WILLIAM.PASSEY@SOTHEBYS.COM

Erin Hamer

Associate, Books & Manuscripts

ERIN.HAMER@SOTHEBYS.COM