• Title: The Modern Chess Primer
• Author: Rev. E.E. Cunnington
• Publisher: David McKay Company
• Estimated year of printing: 1933

Notes:

13th edition, printed May 1933

Printed in Holland 

This book is intended as an introduction to the game of chess.  It was one of the earliest and most popular primers on chess, intended to be written in a way that any person could learn and understand the game.  Reading the early chapters of the book that explain the basic rules, it is written is a very informal, almost conversational style — lacking the precision and formality of modern boardgame manuals.  However, it quickly moves from basics to strategy, at which point it seems like it would overwhelm any new player, explaining in great detail various boards and how best to handle them.  It appears to end up being not just a primer for new players, but a general chess reference for all skill levels.

This book was first published in 1899.  This is the thirteenth edition published in 1933.  It continued to be published up to a 15th edition in 1942.  

The Reverend Edward Ernest Cunnington was the most popular and influential chess authors in the English-speaking world. His lucid style helped introduce and unravel the mysteries of chess to many generations on both sides of the Atlantic and was essential reading both for beginners and the more experienced players alike.  Previously, there were several variants of the rules of the game. Each club would choose which discipline to follow. The British Chess Code, written by Cunnington was intended to unify the rules.  Besides this one, he wrote many other books on chess, such as Chess Openings for Beginners and Chess Traps and Stratagems. 

Historical context:

When this book was published in 1933, Franklin D. Roosevelt had just become president and started his “New Deal” policies to try and deal with the ongoing Great Depression.  25% of Americans were unemployed.  The 21st amendment was passed, ending Prohibition.