Traite des Armes, dédié au Roy.

Traite des Armes, dédié au Roy. Orné de Figures en Taille Douce. A la Hate, Chez Pierre De Hondt. MDCCXL. 

Rare. Quarto, (21 cm x 26.5 cm / 8.26 x 10.43 in), Frontis with the author's portrait engraved by Jacques de Favanne, Title page, blank, 1 sheet, 156 pp., 3 sheets with Tables des Matieres, 116 Planches, 1 sheet. Old leather binding. Good copy, with vintage annotations. Second edition.

It is a classic on the subject, written by a retired French marine infantry officer. His study circulated in his time and today is sought after by collectors of weapons and military clothing. The highly artistic engraved copper plates show the sword fencing exercises -the first 81-, carried out by soldiers, teaching how to fight with them; the others include confrontation with enemies carrying pikes, halberds, flails, and bayonets. In addition, it explains different rifle shooting positions and the use of hand grenades.

An important military manual in a fine copy. Its first edition was in 1736 -today, unfindable- and due to its success, it was immediately published in the version that we present here.

S.O. XV-GHMM