Book of Chess Problems

Unknown

late 14th century

Tempera colors and gold leaf, Tempera Colors

J. Paul Getty Museum

A manuscript page displays a chessboard with decorative pieces and text in a gothic script. The chessboard is bordered by gold leaf. The Bonus socius, known as the "Good Companion," is a manuscript that immerses readers into the intricate world of medieval chess. Within its pages, detailed diagrams depict various chess scenarios and their corresponding solutions. But this manuscript is more than a mere guide to chess; it's a journey through the history and evolution of this timeless game. The title "Bonus socius" is drawn from the manuscript's prologue, where the author, in the spirit of camaraderie, undertook the labor of collecting and documenting a compendium of problems discovered in chess, dice, and morelles. This "Good Companion" stands as a testament to th