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CHESS

  • Cook Chess Collection Location designator: COOK

    In all over 2000 volumes, separately arranged, classed and catalogued. The complete list of the collection is published in Princeton University Library Classified List VI (1920) pp. 3585-3608 [(ExB) 0639.7373.5 vol. 6]. [full text] A separate offprint of the list has call number (COOK) 0639.7377.

    "It may be unknown to many of the Friends that our collection of books on chess given to us in 1915 by Eugene B. Cook is one of the finest and most extensive in the country." -- Biblia VII,1 (Feb. 1936) [full text] .

    The collection includes books on the game and history of chess and has some rare editions and one incunable. Over 250 volumes before 1800 (mostly 16th and 17th century). The importance of the Cook Collection is the voluminous number of letters received by Cook from his correspondents, the ephemeral pamphlets relating to the history of American chess clubs, and particularly the publications relating to chess activity in New Jersey. In this American material, the Cook collection surpasses others.

    For particulars refer to: Albrecht Buschke, "Chess Libraries in America" in the Princeton University Library Chronicle II, 4 (June, 1941) 147-52 [full text] . Article's emphasis on Eugene B. Cook collection at Princeton.

    See also in the Cook collection: a listing of miscellaneous engravings consists of 19 engravings and prints depicting people playing chess games. 

    Spackman Collection

    For particulars see: Albrecht Buschke, "The Spackman Collection of Chess Books" in the Princeton University Library Chronicle XIX, 1 (Autumn, 1957) pp.62-64 [full text] . The Spackman collection includes more than 500 chess books and magazines. The collection is significant because it deals mostly with chess after 1915 (when Mr. Cook died). Half the collection deals with chess tournaments since 1915.

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