Wiener Schach-Zeitung. Organ fur das gesamte Schachleben Volume XIV (14)

x+412 pages with diagrams, tables, illustrations, photographs and index. Octavo (8 3/4" x 6 1/4") bound in original publisher's brown cloth with gilt lettering to spine and blind-stamped ruled edges. From the library of Hans Thanhofer. Volume XIV (14). (Bibliotheca van der Linde-Miemeijeriana:5957) First edition.

The Wiener Schachzeitung, an Austrian chess magazine, published in German which was one of the great magazines of chess ran from 1898 through 1916 and then from 1923 through 1938. Originally founded in 1855 by Ernst Falkbeer, but was only published for nine months. In 1887 it enjoyed a rebirth, but even this publication lasted only nine months. In 1898 Hugo Fahndrich, Alexander Halprin and Georg Marco re-established the name again. As time went on Georg Marco became the sole editor and even the publisher. Marco edited the magazine until 1914 and during that period it became the best chess magazine in the world (Golombek:342). When it was renamed in 1923 it was called the Neu Wiener Schach-Zeitung and was edited by I R Wahle and A Lewitt; however, within a year it had recaptured its old title and in 1926 another great editor, Albert Becker, took over. With the German invasion of Austria, it ceased publication. An attempt to revive it after the end of World War II failed. The witty pen of Hans Kmoch gave distinction to the magazine and every now and then he would edit a faschings (carnival) number that was genuinely funny.

Hans Thonhofer was the editor of Ostereichische Schachrundschau which had a short run, 1922-1925, until it was incorporated into the Wiener Schach-zeitung.

Coverage of the San Sebastian 1911 chess tournament with photographs of the players and table of results. Annotations by G Marco. In the early spring of 1911, fifteen chess masters were invited to the seaside town of San Sebastian, Spain to compete in a round robin tournament. Each player was invited based on a previous result. Every participant had won either first or second place in a chess master tournament, or two or more fourth place prizes. The turnout was a veritable who's who of chess mastery: Established masters such as Tarrasch, Frank James Marshall, Carl Schlechter, Geza Maroczy, David Janowski, and Amos Burn, and newer stars like Akiba Rubinstein, Aron Nimzowitsch, and Rudolph Spielmann were all in attendance. The tournament also marked the European debut of Jose Raul Capablanca, who had garnered fame for defeating Marshall in a match. The only noticeable absence was the world champion, Emanuel Lasker. As a result of this method of invitation, this tournament is often considered to be one of the strongest held in chess history. Games were played in the Gran Casino from February 20th to March 17th. The time control for the tournament stipulated that fifteen moves must be played each hour. Initially, Ossip Bernstein had objected to Jacques Mieses, the tournament organizer, about Capablanca's inclusion in the tournament based on one match victory. Capablanca proved himself first by defeating Bernstein in the first round, silencing his protests for the rest of the tournament. He then went on admirably to win clear first in the tournament, taking home the 5000 Franc prize, as well as winning the brilliancy prize. Rubinstein and Dr. Milan Vidmar shared second place behind Capablanca, while Marshall took clear fourth. The tournament was a landmark both in its strength and in heralding the arrival of Capablanca, a superb tournament player with a long career of victories ahead as well as becoming future world champion.

Condition:

Book plate of Hans Thanhofer to front paste down. A better than very good copy issued without dust wrapper.