{"product_id":"sturges-guide-to-the-game-of-draughts-joshua-sturges-j-a-kear-2nd-edition","title":"Sturges' Guide to the Game of Draughts, Joshua Sturges \u0026 J. A. Kear — 2nd Edition","description":"\u003cp data-path-to-node=\"2\"\u003e\u003cb data-path-to-node=\"2\" data-index-in-node=\"0\"\u003ePublication:\u003c\/b\u003e London, George Bell \u0026amp; Sons, 1899\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-path-to-node=\"3\"\u003e\u003cb data-path-to-node=\"3\" data-index-in-node=\"0\"\u003eFormatting:\u003c\/b\u003e 8vo, pp. [xxviii], 240.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-path-to-node=\"4\"\u003e\u003cb data-path-to-node=\"4\" data-index-in-node=\"0\"\u003eCondition Report:\u003c\/b\u003e Very Good. The binding remains firm and squarely tight, presenting a robust copy of a text often heavily handled by players. The original light green cloth boards show moderate, standard shelf-wear, most notably some slight crushing and mild fraying at the spine head and tail, along with occasional faint surface rubbing. The black-stamped checkerboard tooling and typography on the front board remain entirely unfaded and sharp. Internally, the hinges are secure. The text block edges display typical age-toning and moderate foxing. This foxing extends across the preliminary and terminal leaves, including the half-title and title pages, but it largely dissipates within the main body of the text, leaving the core pages generally clean and highly legible.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-path-to-node=\"5\"\u003e\u003cb data-path-to-node=\"5\" data-index-in-node=\"0\"\u003eCatalogue Note:\u003c\/b\u003e This is the revised edition of J. A. Kear’s update to Joshua Sturges’ classic guide, originally published in this revised format four years prior. Printed by Butler \u0026amp; Tanner at The Selwood Printing Works, the text integrates Sturges' foundational theories with Kear's extensive late-nineteenth-century analysis of modern openings.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-path-to-node=\"6\"\u003eThe volume is interspersed with traditional diagrammatic illustrations of draughts boards to demonstrate critical game situations and strategic play. Exact matching copies of this specific printing have become increasingly scarce on the open market, particularly in sound, original cloth without extensive annotations from past players.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-path-to-node=\"7\"\u003eRegarded as a cornerstone of draughts literature, \u003ci data-path-to-node=\"7\" data-index-in-node=\"57\"\u003eSturges' Guide to the Game of Draughts\u003c\/i\u003e offers a masterclass in strategy, positional play, and tactical foresight. First published in the early nineteenth century and substantially revitalised by J. A. Kear, a titan of the Victorian draughts community, this guide provides players with both foundational principles and advanced critical situations. It serves not only as a practical manual for mastering the board but also as a fascinating historical artifact of the game's evolution, capturing the rigorous intellectual spirit of 1890s competitive play.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Broadhursts Books","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54315457282387,"sku":"4538","price":49.5,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0960\/1469\/6787\/files\/20260708_111413.jpg?v=1784114251","url":"https:\/\/broadhurstsbooks.com\/products\/sturges-guide-to-the-game-of-draughts-joshua-sturges-j-a-kear-2nd-edition","provider":"Broadhursts Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}