Both chess champions. Steinitz (1836–1900) was the first undisputed world chess champion from 1886 to 1894; Marshall (1877–1944) was the US chess champion from 1909 to 1936. Two ALSs: first is an ALS signed “W. Steinitz,” three pages on two adjoining sheets, June 17, 1894, in part: “There is a suspicion in my mind that the report of…Pollock was willfully distorted in order to make mischief. What happened was this: before we set down to play I had complained to the umpires and to the referee about the Philadelphia incident when Lasker instructed Mr. Kemeny to pull down the blind while it was my turn to play and my time was running. This happened at a critical position and in fact I truly believe it lost me that important game”; and an ALS signed “F. J. Marshall,” one page both sides, May 17, 1918, in part: “The distance is so great that a correspondence match might take six months or longer…If you can afford to send me a money order for $20.00 when we make the first opening, and if I win both games I am to receive an additional $20.00…I will be very glad to analyze and criticize the different moves during the play if you prefer.” In overall fine condition. The Marshall letter is accompanied by the original mailing envelope. Originates from the collection of American violinist and pianist Louis Persinger (1887–1966), who trained at the Leipzig Conservatory and later taught at Juilliard, mentoring the likes of Yehudi Menuhin, Ruggiero Ricci, and Isaac Stern. RR Auction COA.
