Das Schach-oder König-Spiel [Chess or the King's Game], by Gustavis Selenus [pseudonym of August der Jüngere]. Leipzig, 1616. German. First edition. Incomplete copy.
The first textbook on chess in the German language, by the duke of Braunschweig-Lüneburg, August der Jüngere (1579-1666). The book features fine engravings, including illustrations of a chessboard and the chess pieces, tables demonstrating various positions, and more. The book also contains three engraved plates and five engraved title pages (at the beginning of the five sections of the book). One of the engraved plates (a double plate) depicts four figures playing chess, signed in the plate by the artist Jacob van der Heyden (1573-1645).
The unique shape of the chess pieces introduced in this book became common in Germany and northern Europe and pieces of this pattern became known as the "Selenus Chess Set.
Incomplete copy. Missing the first 14 leaves are missing (including title page and introduction) and the last four leaves. Bound at the beginning and end of the volume are leaves onto which the text of the title page and the missing pages (491-495) was copied by hand.
[1] leaf, 490 pp + [3] engraved plates (the plate that is bound at the beginning of the book was originally bound between pages 216-217), 27.5 cm. Good overall condition. Large open tears to the last leaves (with handwritten completions). Stains, including dampstains. Notations and markings. Tears to the engraved plate at the beginning of the book and several additional tears (small). Worming to the handwritten leaves that were bound at the end. Original parchment binding, with stains and minor blemishes. Bookplate on the inside front binding.
Not in NLI.
From the estate of Prof. Shlomo Simonsohn.

Proue prime fatti a l'aqua forte da N. Lanier a l'eta sua giouenile di sessanta otto anni 1656 [Several Etchings made by me, Nicholas Lanier, at the young age of 68. 1656]. Publisher and year not indicated, [1820s?].
A volume with 34 etchings by the composer, amateur artist and art collector Nicholas Lanier (1588-1666) and the artist Lucas Vorsterman (1595-1675), after the works of well-known artists such as Parmigianino, Giulio Romano and others. It includes a series of etchings of Moses smashing the Tablets of the Law, after a series of illustrations by Parmigianino, and a series of etchings, "Maschere" ("Masks"), after illustrations by Giulio Romano.
Presumably, this volume was printed from the original plates in the early 19th century. A gilt impression on the spine: "Lanier's Drawing Book 1656".
[34] plates (including the title page and two folded plates), 23 cm. Good overall condition. Stains. Open tears to the margins of several of the plates, not affecting the prints. The back endpaper and both binding boards are detached. The last print is partly detached. Blemishes and tears to binding and spine.