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First issue of the first edition of this important comprehensive manual of civil and military engineering

BELIDOR, Bernard Forest de.
La science des ingenieurs dans la conduite des travaux de fortification et d'architecture civile. Dedié au Roy.

With engraved frontispiece by Rigault, and 53 engraved numbered plates, 51 of which are double-page and 2 full-page; plates 16-19 showing military gates are after the drawings by Comte Thomassin. One engraved head-piece by Filloeul and woodcut head- and tail-pieces and initials.

With engraved frontispiece by Rigault, and 53 engraved numbered plates, 51 of which are double-page and 2 full-page; plates 16-19 showing military gates are after the drawings by Comte Thomassin. One engraved head-piece by Filloeul and woodcut head- and tail-pieces and initials.

With engraved frontispiece by Rigault, and 53 engraved numbered plates, 51 of which are double-page and 2 full-page; plates 16-19 showing military gates are after the drawings by Comte Thomassin. One engraved head-piece by Filloeul and woodcut head- and tail-pieces and initials.

With engraved frontispiece by Rigault, and 53 engraved numbered plates, 51 of which are double-page and 2 full-page; plates 16-19 showing military gates are after the drawings by Comte Thomassin. One engraved head-piece by Filloeul and woodcut head- and tail-pieces and initials.

With engraved frontispiece by Rigault, and 53 engraved numbered plates, 51 of which are double-page and 2 full-page; plates 16-19 showing military gates are after the drawings by Comte Thomassin. One engraved head-piece by Filloeul and woodcut head- and tail-pieces and initials.



Paris, Claude Jombert, 1729. 6 parts in one vol. 4to. Contemporary mottled calf, spine gilt in compartments with red title-label lettered in gold, marbled emdpapers, red painted edges. With engraved frontispiece by Rigault, and 53 engraved numbered plates, 51 of which are double-page and 2 full-page; plates 16-19 showing military gates are after the drawings by Comte Thomassin. One engraved head-piece by Filloeul and woodcut head- and tail-pieces and initials. (16), 80, 64, 96, 104, 80, 80, (8) pp.

Rare first issue of the first edition of this comprehensive manual of civil and military architecture and engineering and fortification. Divided into six nicely balanced parts, the work deals with the theory of mechanics, masonry and the construction of vaults and arches; properties of materials (including, famously and for the first time, the soil), planning and construction of urban and military service buildings, decoration and ornaments (an entire section is devoted to the five orders of columns), quantity surveying and costing. Although written for and on the basis of Bélidor's courses at the military academy of La Fère, the basis rules were equally valid for civil architecture. The book exerted immediate and considerable influence, for instance on the building of the hospitals of Carpentras, Valenciennes and Les Invalides.
The Dutch edition (The Hague 1734), the further Paris editions (f.e. 1739), a German  (1757), Italian (edd. as late as 1840) and the annotated version by Navier of 1813 and 1830 all attest to a wide and lasting influence.
The parts 4 and 6 describe Vauban's procedures at the military 'new town' of Neuf-Brisach in Alsace. Vauban's tables for calculating the strength of retaining walls are giver their first appearance in print. The approbation is signed by Vaubvan's nephew Antoine and by De Cotte.
This first issue is recognisable by 'Mr' on the title being printed in red and by the text width being 122 mm (later 124; in fact the text was completely reset and by consequence the 'second issue' is rather a 'second edition'!)

Bernard Forest de Bélidor (1698-1761 was a French military and civil engineer, significant to the development of the science of hydraulics. Bélidor enlisted in the army at a young age. After leaving the army, he developed an interest in science and engineering, and became professor of artillery at the school of La Fère-en-Tardenois in Aisne </wiki/Aisne>. For a while he worked on measuring the arc of the earth. In the years to come he published several works of great importance, on a wide range of subjects, including hydraulics, mathematics, and civil and military engineering,

Very good copy.- (Binding used and worn).
Berlin Kat. 3540 (vol. 2, p. 449); BAL 237; Books on military architecture: Cat. 170 Paul Breman Ltd (London), nr. 4; Marini 216; Jähns 1745; Jordan O655.

Related Subjects: 18th Century  Architecture  Engineering  Fortification  Militaria 

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