Well I don't know if I fit the bill of a collector but I am definitely a bibliophile.

I have many first editions most are historical or biographical. Keep in mind I just got into chess so I have just a few so far in that genre.

                    I think I would like to hear more about Morphy and Staunton.

You might read a blog entry I made back in January called The Man Who Wouldn't Play Morphy - worth noting are some of the well-expressed comments contrary to my assertations.

James, are you a collector?

I read Napier's book four years ago and enjoyed it thoroughly even though it was inaptly named.  I even posted a few passages to give those unaquainted with the book a taste of it:

                   http://sbchess.sinfree.net/Napier_Mason.html
                   http://sbchess.sinfree.net/Napier_Bird.html
                   http://sbchess.sinfree.net/Napier_Caviar.html

I think I would like to hear more about Morphy and Staunton. You have me hungry for more. BTW I just bought and received a first edition Paul Morphy and the Golden Age of Chess by Napier.

Interesting, good work and thank you! I love that they were claiming it was an inevitable draw only to lose it. I would be lead to assume it is a previous encounter as it seems to have been early in his tour of Europe.

Here's how the affair progressed (I'm copying and pasting in pieces from http://sbchess.sinfree.net/morphybio6.html ). Draw your own conclusions.

 

The steamship, Africa,  arrived in Liverpool, England on June 20, 1858 and [Morphy and Edge] immediately caught the train to Birmingham. The Birmingham chess tournament had been scheduled to begin on June 22 (incidentally, Morphy's birthday) but, unknown to Paul, it had been postponed until August 24.
According to Frederick Edge, Morphy's constant companion in Europe, Paul took sick in Birmingham. They arrived in London on June 21 and registered at Lowe's Hotel. Edward Lowe, the proprietor, was a chess player and engaged Morphy in six games, all won by Morphy. It wasn't until June 23 that Paul felt well enough to venture into the chess clubs of London.  He visited both Simpson's and St. George's where he played Thomas Hampton, St. George's secretary. There, at some point, he also encountered Howard Staunton. After making the perfunctory introductions, Morphy inquired about the challenge made by the New Orleans Chess Club concerning a match between himself and Staunton. Staunton accepted the challenge on the condition that he be allowed a month to brush up on his chess openings, a condition which Morphy gladly agreed to, informing Staunton that he had written to Lord Lyttelton, the president of the British Chess Association, apprising him that his stakes would be available the moment they were desired. Morphy, uncharacteristically, asked Staunton if he cared to play a few casual games but Staunton demurred, citing urgent business elsewhere. However, Staunton invited Morphy to spend the weekend at his country home in Streatham. At Streatham with Morphy and Staunton were Thomas Barnes and the Reverend John Owen. Staunton proposed that they play some consultation games, pitting Owen and himself against Barnes and Morphy. Morphy and Barnes won the first game. The second game was begun, but not finished until nine days later at St. George's. In the interim the game had been analyzed deeply by Barnes, Owen, Boden and other players who declared it an inevitable draw. However, Morphy and Barnes won that game also.

When Morphy first arrived [before going to Streatham], he played Barnes a series of 26 games. During the first ten games, they alternated wins. This surprising occurrence led  many spectators to believe that Morphy's reputation had been greatly overstated.  As the match progressed and as Morphy started to recover from the effects of his trip and from the illness that affected him when he first arrived, the balance shifted dramatically eventually giving Morphy 19 wins to Barnes' 7 wins. Barnes could boast of having the best results against Morphy than any other opponent.
While waiting for Staunton's "month of preparation" to pass, Morphy visited all the London chess clubs but tended to gravitate toward Simpson's Grand Divan. Although he made himself constantly available for chess and played casual games against most of London's strongest players (of which he considered Boden the strongest), Staunton always managed to elude him. On July 3, Morphy played a series of three games with Alter - John Owen. Owen won the first and Morphy won the final two. Later they played two more games which Morphy won.

When Morphy finally caught up with Staunton, Staunton proposed that they delay their match until after the Birmingham tournament in August. Morphy reluctantly agreed. Now that the match was postponed, yet again, Morphy accepted a challenge from John Löwenthal.

OK, now going on batgirls post I was wondering if she knows if the game between

Paul Morphy, Thomas Wilson Barnes vs. Howard Staunton, John Owen ( London,1858 ) had anything to do with the events you had described in your last post. I would like to know if this game was previous to them or an aftermath of the facts, as it would put an interesting spin on the game ( 500 greatest games of chess-Tartakower, Lamont...Game 315 )

Thanks Batgirl - I knew if I threw out Morphy's name - you would help out with much more information. There is not alot of information on Owen so you have helped to put flesh on the bones so to speak. Thanks again!

Well played by the Rev. John.  Thanks for introducing him.  As you pointed out there are so many interesting players in the history of the game we wouldn't normally meet other than their games with the greats.

One thing I found interesting was Morphy's 4. Nh3.  He didn't seem to have anything in mind for it and it took some time before it was actually able to get into play.

(While I was writing this SWFBN added her post.  Batgirl, I'm in awe of your knowledge.  Thanks for the clarification.)

I think there's a slight misconception at play here.
When Morphy went to Europe he was an unknown quantity. He had some renown for having won the American Chess Congress, but the players in Europe didn't have any high regard for this accomplishment. Before his match with Löwenthal, Morph's results in England hadn't been all that impressive. Owen was used to receiving odds of Pawn & Move from Staunton and winning the majority of games. Owen, at this point, placed Morphy far below Staunton - and he wasn't alone in this assessment.  Morphy was indeed the underdog - it's only hindsight that convinces us otherwise.

Owen was not a class act. The above loss was the one and only loss from 5 offhand games played even, during which Owen played more of sitting games than chess games. Following these offhand games, Morphy played Owen a match at Pawn & Move in which Morphy won 5, lost 0 and drew 2. The terms indicated that if Morphy lost, he would play Owen even. If Owen lost he would play Morphy accepting Pawn & Two. Owen refused to play as promised.

Originally, Owen had wanted to play two matches with Morphy simultaneously - one even; one at Pawn & move, but Morphy refused on the grounds that, since Owen accepted odds from Staunton, if Morphy played Owen even, then Staunton could, with good reason, refuse to play Morphy even.

On Aug. 6, 1858, Fredrick Edge wrote a letter to Willard Fiske about Morphy's match with Löwenthal which had all but ended. Edge mentioned that Alter (Rev. John Owen), who was one of Morphy's seconds (Morphy never chose his own seconds, but rather allowed them to be selected for him), had spend more time consoling and encouraging Löwenthal than in supporting Morphy (whom he was bound by honor to support).
Edge wrote, "This reverend gent . . . is more inimical to Morphy than any man in London. God knows how he became Morphy's second; Morphy did not chose him. After each game Lowenthal lost, he would come to Morphy and tell him that he won by L's oversight, and that he [L.] played much below his strength or he would not beat him.  Morphy became so disgusted by his ungentlemanly conduct, and thickheaded observations on the games that he challenged him to a match, giving him odds of Pawn & Move . . .
But Owen states that he does not look upon the result of the match with Löwenthal as conclusive of Morphy's superiority, nor does he think that Morphy having gained 4 out of 5 offhand games, in which Owen took an average of  ¼ hour to a move prove anything, and that he wishes to play 2 matches simultaneously with him, one at even , one at Pawn and move. . ."

Thanks, I love added input that is the only way we learn - feel free to add anytime!

 

Thanks for information Alter's interesting results and later the game. Could I continue this serie? Well, Owen in 1895, Hastings played in minor section in group of Maróczy. Both Maróczy (25) and Owen (68) were first with 6-6 points. The deciding game won Maróczy and later this master section. In Hastings they had played also a match. The result was 2-0 for Maróczy. Later the deciding game will be visible in my blog with Queen sacrifice of Maróczy.

Thats a great game. I always enjoy everything you post. I like to root for the underdog, so I like seeing games where the big dogs lose. Even with Morphy being my number one favorite player.

 

Here it is:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I am working on it and will have it shortly - thanks for the interest!

If you could have included the victory match against Morphy, that would have been the cherry on top of the banana split!