1930. Large 8vo, pp. pp. viii, 566, [2] publisher’s advertisement, with numerous illustrations and diagrams within the text, including a double-page diagram in red and black at pp. 472-3; some occasional light foxing and soiling, with a number of scrap paper inserts covered in calculations from a previous owner; with a number of ex-libris stamps from the ‘Commune de Saint-Gilles, Bibliothèque Centrale Pédagogique’ to half-title, and on pp. 1, 65, 93, 129, 205, 225, 273, 381, 533; uncut in the original printed red card wrappers, spine a little cracked and worn, with split to upper joint and some wear at tail, covers a little stained and soiled, with further faint library stamps visible; still a good copy. First edition of this noted collection of mathematical games and puzzles, by the Belgian mathematician Maurice Kraitchik. ‘With a patience very rare in our time, M. Kraitchik has brought together several hundred of these amusing problems of the most diverse nature and origin: some drawn from Greek, Arab, Hindu and Chinese authors and collections from the Middle Ages, others less ancient mentioned by Bachet de Méziriac, others finally treated or imagined by modern mathematicians and by the author himself. We can, with Mr. Kraitchik, divide these problems or games into two groups: calculation games, studied in the first part of the book, and positional games, treated in the second. (translation of a review by D. Mirimanoff, in L’Enseignement Mathématique, Band 29, pp. 370-1, 1930.) The games touch upon elementary arithmetic, algebra, geometry, probability theory, and magic squares, in so doing the reader gaining an understanding of important mathematical concepts in a fun and entertaining way. Mirimanoff highly recommended the book for all those interested in mathematical education.