PUYSEGUR, Jean-François DE CHASTENET, MARQUIS DE.
Art de la guerre, par principes et par règles. Mis au jour par M. le Marquis De Puységur son fils.
Paris, Ch.A. Jombert, 1749. 2 volumes. 4to. With 2 title-pages, each with a large engraved vignette, engraved headpiece to the dedication, 2 fine engraved headpieces at the beginning of each volume, and illustrations of war camps, battle arrays, formations of marches, plans etc. on 51 folding engraved plates. Contemporary calf, red and black spine label. [12], 411, [5]; [12], 547, [5] pp.
€ 1,950
First edition in quarto, also published in folio, of a classic on warfare by the most experienced marshal general of Louis XIV, posthumously published by his son, who like his father became a marshal of France. Puységur the elder (1656-1743), was generally acknowledged the most adroit general of his time in setting up the best camp, in finding the surest routes for marching, and in making sure of safe foraging, but he also was a great military strategist, studying and comparing earlier battles to profit. The plates in the book illustrate all these qualities, even showing how to arrange nine men to sleep in one tent, but also several maps showing how to maneuvre the army in a supposed battle near Paris. The present work offers all military knowledge and know-how assembled during a lifetime by a great practical military commander, and justly is still highly esteemed today.
Old owner's entry on first blank leaf. Fine set. Jähns II, 1462.
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