Lot N. 244
Le Travaux de Mars ou L’Art de la Guerre divisè in Trois Parties trois tome, par Allain Manesson Mallet Maistre de Mathematiques des pages de [..]
Printed in Paris in 1685 by Denys Thierry, Rue Saint-Jacques, at the sign of La Ville de Paris, opposite Rue du Plâtre; dedicated to the King.
Octavo-folio volumes, second edition. All three volumes retain their contemporary rigid leather bindings with raised bands and gilt titles and ornaments on the spines, in excellent condition.
In the first volume there is a full-page engraved frontispiece depicting a battlefield, with in the foreground a statue of a Roman emperor (possibly Julius Caesar), at whose base the title of the work is inscribed—curiously bearing the date 1684, one year prior to the actual printing. A splendid engraved headpiece appears on the dedication page to King Louis, whose portrait is also engraved before the preface. Facing the opening of the text is a portrait of the author.
The first volume, complete, is enriched with numerous fine engravings and treats the art of war from every perspective, including defensive architecture. It is in good condition overall, with only slight natural browning.
The second volume contains many engravings, including the engraved frontispiece, and is in more than good condition, with a binding identical to that of the first volume, and with decorative headpieces and initials.
The third volume likewise features an engraved frontispiece, similar to those of the first two volumes, and is also richly illustrated with numerous engravings serving both illustrative and decorative purposes.