AN OTTOMAN CHESS BOOK, 18TH CENTURY AN OTTOMAN CHESS BOOK, 18TH CENTURY AN OTTOMAN CHESS BOOK, 18TH CENTURY AN OTTOMAN CHESS BOOK, 18TH CENTURY AN OTTOMAN CHESS BOOK, 18TH CENTURY

AN OTTOMAN CHESS BOOK, 18TH CENTURY

Reference: ART3004166

An Ottoman Turkish manuscript on paper, 16 leaves with 2 fly-leaves, written in black script, titles and catchwords in red ink.
The book contains 76 diagrams of chess problems, about the game of chess, the classes of the players, different stages of the game, and the methods of playing chess. The manuscript contains a one page note related to chess, including names of the companions of the Prophet Muhammad, such as Abu Hurayra, who is claimed to have played chess, rules of the game and names of the various chess pieces.
On the subsequent pages the moves for various plays explained in short paragraphs in black ink. Above every paragraph there is a caption in red ink indicating the number of the play ( i.e. 66th, 67th, 68th etc. )
The following pages contain chessboard diagrams in black ink showing the position of the various chess pieces in Arabic black text.
Above every diagram there is a caption in Arabic script, again indicating the number in red ink.
In brown morocco binding decorated with central gilt medallion with a flap.
17 by 24 cm.