When chess emerged in Europe as the successor to the Indo-Persian-Arabic game of shatranj, chess masters wandered from the court of one royal or ducal patron to another, rather like troubadours.  With the rise of a more cosmopolitan Europe, with a wealthier middle class, chess clubs, supported by businessmen, arose in cafes and chop houses. Local masters became the club professionals, often playing for cash stakes. 

The great names--Morphy, Staunton, Steinitz, Tchigorin, Lasker--dominate, of course. But there was a galaxy of lesser stars, and then there were men like George Hatfield Dingley Gossip.  Credit where credit is due--Gossip was no great master, but by dint of constant effort, he punched above his weight as both a player and an author. This massive tome, over 1,000 pages, covers all aspect of chess playing. In its day it was quite a book. It contains a section on American chess written by another of the lesser stars, Simon Lipschuetz. 

This is a former library book, but unlike most ex-library books, which are beaten up, this book is in surprisingly good shape.  The old check-out pocket is still in the back--a sentimental touch, perhaps.

A bit of history that is worth every penny.

English language, English Descriptive notation. Hardback