The Chess Tournament: A Collection of Games Played at the Celebrated Assemblage. Illustrated by copious Diagrams and notes Critical and explanatory

Author: Staunton, Howard (1810-1874)Year: 1852Publisher: Henry G BohnPlace: LondonDescription:xci+377 pages with diagrams. Small octavo (7" x 4 1/2") rebound with label to spine. (Bohns scientific Library) (Betts: 25-1) First edition.In May 1851, London staged the Great Exhibition to showcase British industry and technology, and London's thriving chess community felt obliged to do something similar for chess. Howard Staunton proposed and then took the lead in organizing the first ever international tournament, to be held at the same time. Staunton and his colleagues had ambitious objectives for this tournament, including convening a "Chess Parliament" to: complete the standardization of the moves and other rules, as there were still very small national differences and a few self-contradictions; to standardize chess notation; to agree time limits, as many players were notorious for simply "out-sitting" opponents. Staunton also proposed the production of a compendium showing what was kno