Edward Winter's Chess Explorations (75)

by ChessBase
12/25/2011 – It seems that the exchange of Christmas greetings cards has never been a particularly common practice in the chess world, and such ephemeral items from yesteryear are quite difficult to find. The Editor of Chess Notes has brought together a selection of cards sent by prominent figures, including Géza Maróczy, Edward Lasker and Irving Chernev. It is time to revel in some Yuletide nostalgia.

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Chess Explorations (75)

By Edward Winter

C.N. 6922 quoted an item about Géza Maróczy on page 26 of the February 1929 American Chess Bulletin:

‘Only recently the famous Hungarian sent out as a Christmas greeting card to his wide circle of friends the score of the Muzio Gambit which he won from Chigorin in the Vienna Gambit tournament of 1903.’

Subsequently, David DeLucia (Darien, CT, USA) submitted a copy of the card, for presentation in C.N. 6928:

From our collection comes this card sent by Edward Lasker to the Morphy authority David Lawson:

Below is a rare example of a Christmas card with an un-Christmassy chess theme:

Next, two cards signed by Brian Reilly, the longstanding editor of the BCM:

Our collection also includes a card depicting Howard Staunton in play against Bernhard Horwitz, issued and signed by Dale Brandreth:

The author and publisher Dale Brandreth is also one of the world’s leading chess book sellers. See Caissa Editions Bookstore.

Finally, two of the cards we received from Olga Capablanca Clark and Irving Chernev:

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All ChessBase articles by Edward Winter

Edward Winter is the editor of Chess Notes, which was founded in January 1982 as "a forum for aficionados to discuss all matters relating to the Royal Pastime". Since then, over 7,400 items have been published, and the series has resulted in four books by Winter: Chess Explorations (1996), Kings, Commoners and Knaves (1999), A Chess Omnibus (2003) and Chess Facts and Fables (2006). He is also the author of a monograph on Capablanca (1989). In 2011 a paperback edition was issued.

Chess Notes is well known for its historical research, and anyone browsing in its archives will find a wealth of unknown games, accounts of historical mysteries, quotes and quips, and other material of every kind imaginable. Correspondents from around the world contribute items, and they include not only "ordinary readers" but also some eminent historians – and, indeed, some eminent masters. Chess Notes is located at the Chess History Center. Signed copies of Edward Winter's publications are currently available.

Reports about chess: tournaments, championships, portraits, interviews, World Championships, product launches and more.

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