"Chess is the most purely intellectual of all games of skill, the origin of which has been much disputed, but probably arose in India 5,000 years ago, and thence spread through Persia and Arabia, to Europe and America. The game has undergone many modifications during its diffusion throughout the world, but retains marked traces of its Oriental origin. The game is played by two persons on a board which consists of 64 squares, arranged in 8 rows of 8 squares each, alternately black and white. Each player has two sets of pieces of opposite colors of 16 men each, and of various powers, according to their rank."—(Charles Leonard-Stuart, 1911)

Chess Board

"Chess is the most purely intellectual of all games of skill, the origin of which has been much disputed,…

A chess board with the pieces in position.

Chess Board

A chess board with the pieces in position.

This chess board and chess men is made in silver and gold, richly ornamented with jewels and enamels.

Chess Board and Chess Men

This chess board and chess men is made in silver and gold, richly ornamented with jewels and enamels.