Lothar Schmids Sammlung kommt unter den Hammer | Perlen vom Bodensee

Die Schachsammlung des deutschen Großmeisters Lothar Schmid wird im kommenden Monat bei Sotheby’s in London versteigert. Das berichtet The Guardian. Die Sammlung umfasst mehr als 50.000…

Books, Manuscripts & Objects from Three Important Collections | 2026 | Sotheby's

The first section of the sale comprises books, manuscripts and objects from the Lothar Schmid collection, generally considered to be the finest chess library still in private hands. Notable volumes include the oldest surviving book on the game of chess, by Lucena (lot 56), scarce incunable editions of Cessolis' De ludo schachorum (lots 10-11), and a group of rare publications on the Automaton Chess Player: the purported Enlightenment predecessor of Artificial Intelligence (lot 2). Other outstanding items include Menzel's „Die Schachpartie“ (The Game of Chess), the eminent German Realist's first painting in oil (lot 82), and scoresheets from the most important chess match of the twentieth century (lot 64).The subsequent section of the sale is an outstanding group of incunabula and early printing from a highly distinguished private collection, and the auction concludes with a fine selection of autograph letters from another important private collection.For assistance with bidding and registration, please contact:Bids.london@sothebys.com(+44) 207 293 5283 (bids general line)For sale enquiries please contact:David GoldthorpeHead of Books and Manuscripts, Europe+44 (0)20 7293 5303DAVID.GOLDTHORPE@SOTHEBYS.COMGabriel HeatonDirector, Specialist | Books Manuscripts+44 20 7293 5670GABRIEL.HEATON@SOTHEBYS.COMWilliam PasseyAssociate Specialist, Books Manuscripts+44 (0) 7515 608291WILLIAM.PASSEY@SOTHEBYS.COMErin HamerAssociate, Books ManuscriptsERIN.HAMER@SOTHEBYS.COM

Books, Manuscripts & Objects from Three Important Collections | 2026 | Sotheby's

The first section of the sale comprises books, manuscripts and objects from the Lothar Schmid collection, generally considered to be the finest chess library still in private hands. Notable volumes include the oldest surviving book on the game of chess, by Lucena (lot 56), scarce incunable editions of Cessolis' De ludo schachorum (lots 10-11), and a group of rare publications on the Automaton Chess Player: the purported Enlightenment predecessor of Artificial Intelligence (lot 2). Other outstanding items include Menzel's „Die Schachpartie“ (The Game of Chess), the eminent German Realist's first painting in oil (lot 82), and scoresheets from the most important chess match of the twentieth century (lot 64).The subsequent section of the sale is an outstanding group of incunabula and early printing from a highly distinguished private collection, and the auction concludes with a fine selection of autograph letters from another important private collection.For assistance with bidding and registration, please contact:Bids.london@sothebys.com(+44) 207 293 5283 (bids general line)For sale enquiries please contact:David GoldthorpeHead of Books and Manuscripts, Europe+44 (0)20 7293 5303DAVID.GOLDTHORPE@SOTHEBYS.COMGabriel HeatonDirector, Specialist | Books Manuscripts+44 20 7293 5670GABRIEL.HEATON@SOTHEBYS.COMWilliam PasseyAssociate Specialist, Books Manuscripts+44 (0) 7515 608291WILLIAM.PASSEY@SOTHEBYS.COMErin HamerAssociate, Books ManuscriptsERIN.HAMER@SOTHEBYS.COM

Telegraph Chess: A 19th Century Tech Marvel

Chess went electric in 1844 with a telegraph match between Washington and Baltimore. How did this game shape the future of chess and technology?

GameTable • COST ACTION CA22145 – Computational Techniques for Tabletop Games Heritage

Ingram Braun

Only a guess but maybe it was the favourite of the West German chief arbiter GM Lothar Schmid. Garde clocks were very popular in FRG chess clubs during that time and the trade between the two German...