''Il Puttino'' is a book published by
Alessandro Salvio
Alessandro Salvio (c. 1575 – c. 1640) was a leading Italian chess player in the early 17th century. He started a chess academy in Naples, and wrote a book called ''Trattato dell'Inventione et Arte Liberale del Gioco Degli Scacchi'', which was pu ...
in 1634, full title:
IL PVTTINO
Altramente detto,
IL CAVALIERO ERRANTE
DEL SALVIO,
Sopra il gioco de'Scacchi, con la sua Apologia contra il Carrera, diuiso in tre Libri. IN NAPOLI, Nella Stampa di Gio: Domenico Montanaro. 1634. Con licenza de'Superiori.
In its closer sense, it is the second "book" (libro secondo), or second chapter of the first book (out of two) published in 1634 (see also "LIBRO QUARTO", fourth book, reprint of the "trattato" of 1604).
All these four books have been published as a
reprint by an unknown author, "Da un Incognito", in 1723.
The latter work of 1723 is sometimes referred as ''The Salvio''.
In its closest sense, however, 'Il Puttino' is a nickname used by Salvio for
Giovanni Leonardo from
Cutro Cutro ( Calabrian: ) is a town and ''comune'' in the province of Crotone, Calabria region, Italy. It's called "City of chess". It is the place of birth of Vincenzo Iaquinta, World Cup-winning footballer who played for Serie A club Juventus.
Histor ...
. In the two version of the 'libro secondo' a story is told which actually took place 50–60 years before it was printed in letters. Although the descriptions of
Alessandro Salvio
Alessandro Salvio (c. 1575 – c. 1640) was a leading Italian chess player in the early 17th century. He started a chess academy in Naples, and wrote a book called ''Trattato dell'Inventione et Arte Liberale del Gioco Degli Scacchi'', which was pu ...
should be considered with caution (due to the long distance of time), ''Il Puttino'' is very relevant for our imagination of these times. A long list of
chess players are named in the ''Puttino'', which obviously reflect real persons, such as
*
Ruy Lopez
The Ruy Lopez (; ), also called the Spanish Opening or Spanish Game, is a chess opening characterised by the moves:
:1. e4 e5
:2. Nf3 Nc6
:3. Bb5
The Ruy Lopez is named after 16th-century Spanish priest Ruy López de Segura. It is one o ...
*
Leonardo
Leonardo is a masculine given name, the Italian, Spanish, and Portuguese equivalent of the English, German, and Dutch name, Leonard
Leonard or ''Leo'' is a common English masculine given name and a surname.
The given name and surname originate ...
*
Puttino
*
Paolo Boi
Paolo Boi (1528–1598) was an Italian chess player. He is considered to have been one of the greatest chess players of the 16th century. In 1549, he beat Pope Paul III in a chess match.
Early life
He was born in Syracuse, Sicily (now Italy), ...
*
Giulio Cesare da Lanciano
The first translation of ''Il Puttino'' (in the sense of the 'libro secondo') from Italian to English language was done by
George Walker George Walker may refer to:
Arts and letters
* George Walker (chess player) (1803–1879), English chess player and writer
*George Walker (composer) (1922–2018), American composer
* George Walker (illustrator) (1781–1856), author of ''The Co ...
, and published unter the title "The light and lustre of chess" in ''
The Chess player's chronicle'', 1843.
The Chess player's chronicle, The light and lustre of chess, by George Walker, 1843
/ref>
According to JH Saratt's translation, ''Il Puttino'' was first published in 1604, and republished in 1634.
References
{{Reflist
1634 books
17th century in chess
Chess books