Chess or the King's Game

Chess or the King's Game (German: Das Schach- oder Königsspiel) is a book on chess.^[1][2] It was published in 1616 under the name of Gustavus Selenus("Gustavus" being an anagram of "Augustus" and "Selenus" referring to the Greek moon goddess Selene, linked to the Latin origin of the name "Lüneburg"), the pen name of Augustus the Younger, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg.^[3]

In addition to chess instruction, this book contained interesting illustrations of contemporary German chess pieces. The usage for chessmen at the time tended to favor slender designs with nested floral crowns. The book was so successful that pieces of this pattern became known as the "Selenus Chess Sets”.^[4] Over time, pieces became taller, thinner, and more elaborate. Their apparent floral nature lead some to name them "Garden Chess Sets" or "Tulip Chess Sets". Selenus pattern sets were commonly made in Germany and Central Europe until about 1914 when they were completely eclipsed by the more playable and stable Staunton chess set Pattern, which was introduced in 1849^[5] by manufacturer Jaques of London.

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