First edition of an extensive treatise on offensive and defensive fortification by the French Jesuit mathematician l'abbé Deidier (1696-1746). Intended as a practical manual for military engineers, it discusses the construction, attack, and defence of both regular and irregular fortifications, drawing on the methods of leading military engineers such as Vauban, Menno van Coehoorn, Antoine de Ville, and Blaise François Pagan, while proposing improved methods for fortifying irregular sites. The work is illustrated with 42 large folding engraved plates of fortification plans and detailed views.
Deidier devoted himself to mathematics after being appointed professor of philosophy at the seminary of Aix-en-Provence. He later taught at the École royale d'artillerie at La Fère and published several mathematical and military works, which established his reputation as one of the leading French mathematical writers of his generation. Although first published anonymously at Amsterdam in 1734, later editions issued at Paris from 1736 onwards appeared under his full name.
The binding is somewhat rubbed, affecting the back board and the title label. The leaves are somewhat browned and occasionally stained. Otherwise in good condition. Guarnieri 67; Jordan 844; Marini 237; WorldCat 1150317066, 1415405944, 312426287, 860709197; cf. Poggendorff I, 537 (other eds.); Berlin Kat. 3544 (Paris-ed. of 1757); not in BAL; Fowler; STCN.