Collection Highlights

On display are some of the more than 1100 editions owned by Cleveland Public Library of this famous book of poetry.  John G. White, a former Library Board President and major benefactor of the library, amassed one of the world's largest and most complete collections of chess material. While tracing the literature that discussed the origin and history of the game, he became interested in examining chess references in classical and medieval works. He collected the Rubaiyat because one of the verses, as translated by Edward Whinfield, refers to the game of chess.

We are but chessmen, destined, it is plain, 
That great chess-player, Heaven, to entertain; 
It moves us on life's chess-board to and fro, 
And then in death's dark box shuts up again.