FORTIFICATIONS

[Engineering and architecture]: Praxes mathematica’ [i.e. mathematicae] in urbibus muniendis. [?Paris] [c.1720].

An illustrated French mathematical manual for drawing fortification designs, likely from the French army. The work starts at first principles (instructions on the geometry of the circle), but the author elaborates, employing technical terms for the different parts of the fortifications, and comparing French with Dutch and Spanish customs.

The treatise carries the name at very end of the famous writer on fortifications Antoine De Ville (1596-1657), alongside other authors Erradus, Mareolus. These names appear given as further reading.

Details

MS, 8vo., 98 leaves including one blank. Latin, some French. Illustrations (tables or diagrams) to 36 pages - different sizes (small to extra-large), some on folded-in page extensions, some on larger-size pages that are folded in. A further 3 diagrams now trimmed away (either by the author or a later owner). Some pasted-in blank strips at bottoms of leaves (possibly extensions that were subsequently unused and trimmed). Light or medium browning, some light waterstaining. Bound in contemporary calf, spine gilt with label of brown morocco gilt, edges mottled red (binding rubbed, worn and slightly stained, loss at head and tail of spine). 20th-cent. English bookseller’s description to front pastedown.