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Famous book on Warfare in the Dutch army in the time of Maurits

HONDIUS, Hendrick.
Korte beschrijvinge, ende af-beeldinge van de generale regelen der fortificatie, de artillerie, munition, ende vivres, van de officieren der selve ende hare commissien, van de leger-aerde-wallen, de approchen met het tegenweer, ende van vyerwercken.

With first title within richly engraved architectural framework with 6 pennons at the top showing a dog ('Hondius') on the left and

With first title within richly engraved architectural framework with 6 pennons at the top showing a dog ('Hondius') on the left and

With first title within richly engraved architectural framework with 6 pennons at the top showing a dog ('Hondius') on the left and

With first title within richly engraved architectural framework with 6 pennons at the top showing a dog ('Hondius') on the left and

With first title within richly engraved architectural framework with 6 pennons at the top showing a dog ('Hondius') on the left and



The Hague, Hendrik Hondius I, 1624. 4 parts in one vol. Folio. Contemporary vellum. With first title within richly engraved architectural framework with 6 pennons at the top showing a dog ('Hondius') on the left and "Hh inventor" on the right; the three other titles printed within fine engraved ornamental framework, all three adaptations of a plate by Crispyn van den Queborn; part 1: 11 engraved plans of fortifications, 10 double-page, one full-page and one smaller engraving in the text; part 2: numerous illustrations and figures of heavy artillery on 2 double-page folding engraved plates; part 3: 2 double-page large engraved plates glued together (Hollstein 309-310) and a very large folding engraved plate (302x890mm) printed on two leaves of the two armies of Stadholder Maurits and archduke Albert on the beach of Nieuwpoort at the beginning of the famous battle of 1600 by Floris Balthasar (not in Hollstein!, Muller 1137); part 4: 3 full-page engraved plates of the sieges of Ostende, Grave and Gulick (Julliers), and a double page plate of the siege of Bergen-op-Zoom, furthermore a full-page plate of a cross section of a ship, two logs joined by a chain, a clock and a ship used for fireworks. (8), 78, (2) pp.

Rare original edition of one of the most important works on military science of the early 17th century, written by the famous draftsman, engraver, mathematician, printer and publisher Henricus Hondius (Duffel 1573 - 1649, probably in The Hague). It stands out as a work directly aimed at the practice in the field, and based on the reality and actual circumstances of the warfare in the Dutch Republic. The work virtually is a short encyclopaedia of military science, divided into 4 parts, respectively treating:
(1) p. 1-14: the science of fortification, "Korte onderrichtinge van de generale regelen der fortificatie.
(2) p. 15-23: the technics of heavy artillery, "De beschrijvinge ende uytbeeldige van vierderley groff geschut, als van heele ende halve kortouwen, het veldtstuck ... volghende het ghebruyck van de Vereenichde Nederlanden te velde".
(3) p. 24-52: the officers and other military personnel, the logistics of the army in the field and the marches of the army, "Handelende van de officieren, van den treyn, van de artillerie, munition ende vivres, van hare commissien, ende het marcheren te lande".
(4) p. 53-78: the technics of a siege followed by a discussion of the production of fire-works, "De beschrijvinge van de Legher-aerde-wallen, de appochen met het teghen-weer te lande en te water ... ende een toebereydinge van Vyur-wercken met den aenkleven vande materialen daer toe behoorende".
The work is preceded by the title (p. (1-2), a preface (p. (3-4) and a dedication by Hondius to the Burgomasters and aldermen of The Hague, dated 18 May 1624 (p. (5-7).
Although manoeuvres or tactics as such are left out, the text contains also much interesting information on these subjects. Especially the part on the technics of the heavy artillery is of great importance. Under the Princes of Orange, Maurits and Frederik Hendrik, Dutch military equipment had become the best and highest developed of Europe. The Dutch artillery was based on four standard models of cannons, which stayed the basic types in warfare until the modern invention of the breech-loading gun. The work is also of great interest for its fine illustrations engraved by Henricus Hondius the Elder.
Complete with the extremely rare very large folding engraved plate (302x890mm) printed on two leaves of the two armies of Stadholder  Maurits and archduke Albert on the beach of Nieuwpoort at the beginning of the famous battle of 1600, engraved by Floris Balthasar (Muller 1137) with the two Latin poems by Hugo Grotius. This plate is sometimes lacking in copies of this work.
In the next year (1625) a French translation was published with the same plates.

Fine copy of a rare and important work with several errased ownership's entries (a.o. a stamp of Daniel Caok at Ypres).- (Binding sl. rubbed; some insignificant waterstaining at places and some small tears in a few plates).
New Hollstein, H. Hondius (1994), 295-315; Muller, Ned. Hist.prenten 1137; Kossman p. 185-6 (by mistake attributed to Albert Girard); Jähns II, p. 945, 996-7, and 1106; Cockle 816 (French edition of 1625). Not in Philip, Firework books.

Related Subjects: Dutch  Fortification  Militaria 

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