The 1st Positional Chess Masterpiece - Best Of The pre-1900s - St. Amant vs Staunton, 1843

Howard Staunton became the first leading English player to defeat a leading French chess player in his 1843 match against Pierre Saint-Amant. Check out this fine positional drubbing here!
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[@Opferschach]

In the book "A Treatise on the Game of Chess" by William Lewis the author says:
"The Bishops and Knights are considered of equal value, and are worth rather more than three, but certainly less than four Pawns." He continues: "A Rook is of the value of five Pawns, and may be exchanged for a minor piece and two Pawns." He then adds: "a Rook out of play may be given up advantageously for a Bishop or Knight in full play."
The edition I saw on Google Books is from from 1844, but there was also a 1834 edition. So it's safe to assume the concept of the exchange sacrifice has already existed and was not invented over the board in this game.
I also checked three German-language 19th century manuals. "Handbuch des Schachspiels" by Paul Rudolph von Bilguer gives the rook the value of 5½ pawns. In the book "Das Schachspiel und seine strategischen Prinzipien" by Max Lange the rook is valued as 5 pawns. "Die Schachschule" by Johannes Metger says the rook is worth 4½ pawns.

[@emmahird2795]

Excellent source! It's interesting to see how well developed the concept of relative value was back then.
Slightly off topic, but was there any talk at the time of strategic ideas like controlling colour complexes, especially with the use of an exchange sacrifice? It seems like the wording here is ambiguous on this concept and I'd be curious to see what the thoughts at the time were

[@emmahird2795]

I remember when a commenter suggested this game under your botvinnik exchange sac game! I've been dying to see you take a look!

[@jaylenlenear3944]

No offense to you but do you know any modern analysis of this game by a stronger player ? (IM+