Dufresne, J. Manual for Studying the Game of Chess (Rukovodstvo k izucheniyu shakhmatnoy igry), 1903. In Russian

Дюфрень Ж. Руководство к изучению шахматной игры. / Пер. с нем. Э. С. Шифферса; с добавлением статей: «Здравый смысл в шахматах» Э. Ласкера, «Советы начинающим». 2-е изд.
Санкт-Петербург : Типография В. Демакова, 1903.
VIII, 315 с. Полукожаный владельческий переплёт эпохи, обычный формат.
Состояние: в хорошем состоянии; пометки карандашом и чернилами в тексте.
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Dufresne, J. Manual for Studying the Game of Chess (Rukovodstvo k izucheniyu shakhmatnoy igry). / Trans. from German by E. S. Shiffers; with additional articles: “Common Sense in Chess” by E. Lasker, and “Advice for Beginners”. 2nd ed.
Saint Petersburg: V. Demakov Typography, 1903.
VIII, 315 pp. Contemporary half-leather binding, standard format.
Condition: in good condition; contains pencil and ink notations throughout.

This 1903 edition is a magnificent artifact of the pre-revolutionary Russian chess world, representing a synthesis of German theory and Russian pedagogical excellence. Published in Saint Petersburg, the book brings together three of the most influential names in chess history: Jean Dufresne, Emmanuil Shiffers, and Emanuel Lasker.
The core of the volume is Dufresne’s famous manual, a work that shaped the play of thousands across Europe. However, its value is significantly enhanced by the translation and commentary of Emmanuil Shiffers, the "Russian Champion" and mentor to Mikhail Chigorin. Shiffers did not merely translate; he adapted the material for the burgeoning Russian school of chess, which was then beginning its ascent to global dominance.
Of particular historical importance is the inclusion of Emanuel Lasker’s legendary lectures, "Common Sense in Chess." Written by the reigning World Champion at the peak of his powers, these articles introduced a revolutionary philosophical approach to the game, emphasizing general principles and the "economy of force" over rote memorization of variations.
The presence of contemporary pencil and ink notations suggests that this specific copy was a working tool for a serious player of the Imperial era, adding a layer of unique provenance. Bound in a sturdy half-leather period binding, this second edition is a cornerstone for collectors of chess incunabula and those interested in the cultural history of the Silver Age in Russia.