The first and only edition printed in the Netherlands, with a false Paris imprint and not previously recognized, of "the first independent French work on fortification" (Jähns), by Jean Errard, mathematician and official military engineer to King Henri IV. The four "livres" give a general introduction, an account of regular (symmetrical) fortifications, irregular fortifications and fortifications at the edge of a hill, mountain or sea. The emphasis is on design and geometric construction, rather than the mechanics of building. It remained the French standard work on the subject until superseded by Vauban's work beginning in the 1670s, but even Vauban shows Errard's influence very clearly. There appears to be no copy in any Dutch library.
With minor and mostly marginal water stains (reaching the corner of the text in the last two quires), occasional marginal tears and an occasional crease, but still in good condition. The binding shows a few stains, and old sheepskin parchment restorations on the fore-edge, but is structurally sound as refurbished. The only Netherlands edition, in the original French, of a seminal classic of French fortification. Berlin Kat. 3518; Cockle 802 note; Jordan 1066 (7 copies); cf. Jähns, pp. 832-833; Sloos, Warfare 8008; not in STCN.