Photograph of the Famous 1923 Chess Game Played with Living Pieces in Compiègne, France * together with * Italian Newspaper "La Domenica del Corriere" Reporting the Chess Game
Vincennes, France / Milan, Italy: PATHÉ Journal / La Domenica del Corriere, 1923. Achille Beltrame. Mounted Photograph / Newspaper. A rare chess photograph, capturing a multitude of participating moving parts during this living chess game, played in 1923 by two chess champions - Edouard Pape and André Muffang. The game was played in Compiègne, France and this photo, we believe, is a still taken from what is possibly the "lost film" (many films from the era have been "lost" due to the nitrate film used) of the event made by the pioneer film makers, the Pathé Brothers. This image has the rounded corners common to moving film stills and is also stamped in blind with their company name "PATHÉ - Journal" on the lower left corner of the card mount. The mount has inked on verso in a period French hand "Compiègne - Tournoi d'échecs vivants" [Living chess tournament]. A gelatin silver print measuring 4-7/8 x 6-3/4 inches wide, mount is 6-1/4 x 7-3/4 inches wide ; both photograph and mount are near fine with minor toning to edges. The newspaper is folio size (15-1/8 inches tall), pp. 16, toned with a touch of spotting and tiny losses to upper right corner and at spine fold from being disbound. Near Fine. Item #3932
The game took place on May 20, 1923 at 3:30 p.m. at the Terrain des Fêtes de Compiègne. "The strangest game of chess. In Compiegne, on a 40-meter square, 175 costumed extras, representing the 32 pieces of the game, performed the moves made by two players on an ordinary chessboard. A Page, from time to time, communicated the moves to the Knight who directed the living pieces." From the newspaper caption, loosely translated into English.
Price: $750.00 CAD other currencies