Harrie Grondijs’ Study Books
Henricus (Harrie) Grondijs is a Dutch endgame study composer, historian, translator and writer, born 21 Feb. 1946). He is well-known for his small edition, unique, well-produced and signed publications, most of which deal with small well-researched topics. His books are almost always signed and numbered in small limited editions – about thirty copies on average.
The Royal Library at The Hague has 42 Grondijs titles in its catalogue. The publishing dates range from 1990 to 2013. I have been trying to get ‘No Rook Unturned; A Tour Around the Saavedra Study’ (2004) for years.
I have eleven of his publications in my collection and, therefore, was very interested when a number of his recent books came up for auction on eBay.
The three that I was most interested and bid on were:
Grondijs, H.: The Errors of the Calabrois (2012) 256 pgs
The book is a definitive work on the endgame King + 3 Pawns versus King + 3 Pawns when the Pawns are on both sides (abc versus fgh).
First part of the book presents the Chapais analysis of this endgame in his manuscript (ca 50 pages). The history of the endgame from the 17th century to the present is described in the second part of the book, with analysis of Carrera, Greco, Bertin, Lewis, Walker, von der Lasa, Mason, Speelman and other players (ca 180 pages).
Edition – 35 copies, signed and numbered
+++++++++
Grondijs, H.: Chess Endgames: Pawn against Queen (2013) 108 pgs
The book deals with the endgame King + Queen versus King + (Bishop- or Rook-) Pawn on the 7th rank. It consists of following parts:
• King and a Pawn against the King and the Queen, an essay by Mr. Chapais, from Chapais manuscript (ca 1780)
• Queen and Pawn Princess, an essay by Alexander Rueb, first time published in magazine Schaakmat, 1954
• The Queen against the Rook Pawn or Bishop Pawn on the seventh Rank, by A. Rueb, 1950s (first time published many years later by Jan van Reek in small edition)
with introduction, postaface, comments and detailed bibliographic index by Harrie Grondijs
Edition – 35 copies, signed and numbered
++++++++++
Grondijs, H.: King Rules by Chapais (2011) 270 pgs
The book consists of three parts:
• Introduction by Harrie Grondijs, pages 5-100, deals with the opposition in the 18th century
• Opposition and Pawn Endings by Chapais, pages 101-232
King's March on the Chessboard by Chapais, Durand and Grondijs, pages 233-266
Edition - 35 copies, signed and numbered
++++++++
The seller started the bids at $1. With six days to go, I bid $10 each.
If I were to get the books, I would keep them. Others might bid to resell and could get 3 to 5 times their present value almost immediately.
The auction is over (Feb.9, 2014). In the final half-hour I raised my bid to more than what I expected each book to go for. It is amazing how high your heart-rate goes in those last few moments. I did not get a single book.
The selling prices were:
Errors of the Calabrois $317.00 12 bidders Shipping $18.50
Pawn Against Queen - $302.95 8 bidders Shipping $11.50
King Rules - $239.50 9 bidders Shipping $30.80
Everything is U.S. Dollars
++++++++
I know all this must seem like madness to a non-collector but there are 200 to 300 collectors for whom such auctions are a dramatic part of every-day life!
Henricus (Harrie) Grondijs is a Dutch endgame study composer, historian, translator and writer, born 21 Feb. 1946). He is well-known for his small edition, unique, well-produced and signed publications, most of which deal with small well-researched topics. His books are almost always signed and numbered in small limited editions – about thirty copies on average.
The Royal Library at The Hague has 42 Grondijs titles in its catalogue. The publishing dates range from 1990 to 2013. I have been trying to get ‘No Rook Unturned; A Tour Around the Saavedra Study’ (2004) for years.
I have eleven of his publications in my collection and, therefore, was very interested when a number of his recent books came up for auction on eBay.
The three that I was most interested and bid on were:
Grondijs, H.: The Errors of the Calabrois (2012) 256 pgs
The book is a definitive work on the endgame King + 3 Pawns versus King + 3 Pawns when the Pawns are on both sides (abc versus fgh).
First part of the book presents the Chapais analysis of this endgame in his manuscript (ca 50 pages). The history of the endgame from the 17th century to the present is described in the second part of the book, with analysis of Carrera, Greco, Bertin, Lewis, Walker, von der Lasa, Mason, Speelman and other players (ca 180 pages).
Edition – 35 copies, signed and numbered
+++++++++
Grondijs, H.: Chess Endgames: Pawn against Queen (2013) 108 pgs
The book deals with the endgame King + Queen versus King + (Bishop- or Rook-) Pawn on the 7th rank. It consists of following parts:
• King and a Pawn against the King and the Queen, an essay by Mr. Chapais, from Chapais manuscript (ca 1780)
• Queen and Pawn Princess, an essay by Alexander Rueb, first time published in magazine Schaakmat, 1954
• The Queen against the Rook Pawn or Bishop Pawn on the seventh Rank, by A. Rueb, 1950s (first time published many years later by Jan van Reek in small edition)
with introduction, postaface, comments and detailed bibliographic index by Harrie Grondijs
Edition – 35 copies, signed and numbered
++++++++++
Grondijs, H.: King Rules by Chapais (2011) 270 pgs
The book consists of three parts:
• Introduction by Harrie Grondijs, pages 5-100, deals with the opposition in the 18th century
• Opposition and Pawn Endings by Chapais, pages 101-232
King's March on the Chessboard by Chapais, Durand and Grondijs, pages 233-266
Edition - 35 copies, signed and numbered
++++++++
The seller started the bids at $1. With six days to go, I bid $10 each.
If I were to get the books, I would keep them. Others might bid to resell and could get 3 to 5 times their present value almost immediately.
The auction is over (Feb.9, 2014). In the final half-hour I raised my bid to more than what I expected each book to go for. It is amazing how high your heart-rate goes in those last few moments. I did not get a single book.
The selling prices were:
Errors of the Calabrois $317.00 12 bidders Shipping $18.50
Pawn Against Queen - $302.95 8 bidders Shipping $11.50
King Rules - $239.50 9 bidders Shipping $30.80
Everything is U.S. Dollars
++++++++
I know all this must seem like madness to a non-collector but there are 200 to 300 collectors for whom such auctions are a dramatic part of every-day life!
Comment