GOOD COMPANION (BONUS SOCIUS): XIIIth CENTURY MANUSCRIPT COLLECTION OF CHESS PROBLEMS to which is added a short narrative of Jacobus Cessolis and the two French champions Philidor and La Bourdonnai. Edited by James F. Magee.

ILLUSTRATED with a COLOR FRONTISPIECE and 38 REPRODUCTIONS taken from the ORIGINAL 13th CENTURY MANUSCRIPT on 27 PLATES, mostly double-page, 1 folding. Beautifully printed plates.

Published in FLORENCE, ITALY: Printed by the Tipografia Giuntina under the Direction of L. Franceschini, 1910. Second Edition (first published in 1663).

Copy 239 of a Limited Edition. "Only a limited number of volumes of this edition has been printed. This book is No. 239".

Contains reproductions of the Latin chess problems vellum manuscript known as "Bonus Socius" (circa 13th Century), which is likely based on Jacobus de Cessolis (13th century). The book includes a history and a description of the manuscript, and short biographies of Philidor and La Bourdannais, all with relevant illustrations by James Magee, chess player from Philadelphia.

A fine printing of the original handwritten vellum work, finely bound in sturdy calf leather covered wooden boards with five brass buttons and metal clasp brackets on both the front and rear covers (the clasp strap is clipped so the book is lacking its locking piece), leather covered spine with gilt titling, top edge gilt, 7x10 inches (17x25.5 cm), 68 numbered pages plus the many unnumbered plates.

GOOD Condition: Rubbing to edges, spine folds, corner tips and spine ends, the spine covering is chipped for 3/4 inch at the top and a bit at the bottom, and is cracking at places along its folds, but is holding well; internally, the front inner hinge is cracking but holding well, ghost of a label removed from the upper corner of the front pastedown, light foxing to endpapers, mild toning to pages. A solid, complete, very presentable copy.

RARE 1910 Limited Edition printing in a fine binding.

Checkmate in the 13th Century.

BOUQUETS TO ART at the DE YOUNG MUSEUM San Francisco, by Pamela J. Self Published (Pamela J Photography), San Carlos, California, 2012. Printed and bound at Tien Wah Press, Singapore. Hardcover book in dustjacket, 9.5x11 inches 187 pages. Filled with color photographs. First Edition, so stated on the copyright page. (There was a predecessor book by Pamela J titled: Bouquets to Art at the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, self published, 2006). Laid in is a ticket to the 2012 Bouquets To Art exhibit at the de Young museum, and a receipt for this book from the de Young Museum bookstore (total price was $58.50 that included a $6.50 de Young Museum membership discount). Condition: NEAR FINE book in a NEAR FINE dustjacket. Just lightly handled, a lovely copy. About BOUQUETS TO ART at the de Young Museum of San Francisco (compiled from Wikipedia and the book's Introduction): ******Bouquets to Art is an annual floral exhibition hosted by the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco. Florists, designers and garden clubs are invited to present floral interpretations of works in the museums permanent collections, and the floral displays are presented in juxtaposition with the works that inspired them. Originally begun at the de Young Museum in 1984, Bouquets to Art later moved to the Legion of Honor where it flourished from 1996 to 2005. Bouquets to Art returned to the newly reconstructed de Young in 2006 commencing a marvelous new legacy. Bouquets to Art at the de Young showcases work by approximately 150 of the Bay Area's most talented and renowned floral designers. This select group of artists displays original creations ranging in style from the classical to the avant garde. Their floral designs draw inspiration from art pieces in the de Young's permanent collections, and are presented along with art at the Bouquets to Art event. In addition to pairing floral designs with the museum's artworks, the annual exhibition features an extensive program of floral design demonstrations and activities. Since its inception the event has become a cherished San Francisco tradition for both art and flower devotees and draws an avid following from throughout the San Francisco Bay Area.******

DICTIONARY OF BASIC JOSEKI, Volume 1 and Volume 2, by Yoshio Ishida. Published in Japan, 1976. ISBN: 4818200670.

JAPANESE BOOKS, JAPANESE TEXT. Two Volumes. Flexible vinyl covers with plastic jackets, front covers and spines titled in silver, 5x7 inches, 505 pages each. In printed cardboard slipcases. FULLY ILLUSTRATED showing Joseki moves and positions.

Condition: FINE books, tight, bright, clean, clear and unmarked. In GOOD slipcases that are sunned / toned but still doing their job well.

Did I mention that the TEXT is in JAPANESE?

About GO JOSEKI (from Wikipedia):

******In GO, because games typically start with plays in the corners, go joseki are usually about corner play as the players try to gain local advantages there in order to obtain a better overall position. Though less common, there are also joseki for the middle game. In Japanese, jo means "fixed" or "set" and seki means "stones", giving the literal meaning "set stones", as in set pattern. In Chinese, the term for joseki is dìngshì.******

FIVE BOOKS on THE GAME OF "GO" by WU QINGYUAN, TAKEO KAJIWARA, IKURO ISHIGURE ++

FIVE BOOKS on the GAME OF GO. Three in English, One in Chinese, One in Japanese.

All softcovers, all profusely illustrated with game positions.

The books are:

THE DIRECTION OF PLAY, by TAKEO KAJIWARA. First Edition, First Printing, 1979. Softcovers, 4.5x7 inches, 248 pages. GOOD condition, the inner hinge is split (but holding) at one place where the book was over-opened, otherwise tight, bright, clean and unmarked. Takeo Kajiwara was an important Japanese GO champion. See his Wikipedia page.

Chinese Book - GAMES OF WU QINGYUAN, by Wu Qingyuan. Chinese Book, TEXT IN CHINESE. 5x7.5 inches, 294 pages. GOOD condition, a bump/crease to the bottom corner of the book, otherwise just lightly used and still tight, bright, clean, clear and unmarked. WU QINYUAN is considered by many to have been the greatest GO player of the 20th century, and a GO genius. See his Wikipedia page.

IN THE BEGINNING - The Opening in the Game of GO, by Ikuro Ishigure. Elementary Go Series, Volume One, 5x7 inches, 152 pages. GOOD condition, spine is heavily sunned, there is a small store label on the inside rear cover "Japanese Trading Co. / Elmsford, New York", otherwise lightly used and still tight, bright, clean and unmarked.

TESUJI, by James Davies. Elementary Go Series, Volume Three, 5x7 inches, 198 pages. VERY GOOD condition, just gently used, tight, bright, clean and unmarked.

Japanese Book on GO - Text in Japanese. Published in 1954. Trompe l'oeil Japanese sewn binding, actually wrappers with stapled inner pages, 4x6 inches, 158 pages. GOOD condition, staples rusting but holding, pages lightly toned.

WOVEN WIRES: the ART of MODERN ZULU WIRE WEAVING, by Laura Ponter, illustrated by Camille Stabler.

SIGNED and INSCRIBED by the AUTHOR on the first page: "To Florence Graham / The weave of freedom begins with simple thoughts and basic materials and a spirit of humanness / Laura Ponter".

Published by Spirits in Stone Press, Glen Ellen, California, 2008. First Edition, so stated. ISBN: 9780615214177.

Softcovers, 9x10 inches, 64 pages. Illustrated throughout.

VERY GOOD condition, just lightly used, tight, bright, clean, clear and unmarked. A solid, very nice copy.

From the rear cover: "Woven Wires is an introduction to the history, technique and beauty of the modern art of weaving with wires. It is one person's journey into the growing craft art of the Zulu people of South Africa."