£2,000 - £3,000
Valturio, Roberto
De Re Militari.
Paris: Christian Wechel, 1535.
Exceptional compendium of the latest techniques and devices for climbing walls, catapult missiles and to fortify Cities. The work of Valturio, a famous Italian engineer, marks the transition between medieval and Renaissance warfare, with the application of cannons and gunpowder. The text soon became a primary manual for Renaissance princes and military leaders: Leonardo Da Vinci, who according to Cockle (p. 134) appears to have drawn the illustrations in the work, made use of it while acting as chief engineer to Cesare Borgia. The historical imprint of "De Re Militari" lies in the fact that it is the first book printed with technical or scientific illustrations depicting the progressive engineering ideas of the author's time. The text contains numerous woodcuts, including 22 full-page, executed with extreme precision and elegance. The author of these woodcuts is Mercure Jollat, excellent Parisian engraver. His monogram is present on 3 engravings, on pages 191, 298 and 317. The woodcuts illustrate the equipment needed by the military and the navy engineers; include rotating gun turrets, siege platforms and ladders, paddle wheels, diving suits, life jackets etc.
[12], 383, [1].
Condition: usual browning and toning, few leaves stained to inner gutters. Leaves otherwise crisp and in good order. Folio, seventeenth- century Dutch vellum, book-label of Isaac Vossius, pasted to foot of title. 325mm x 215mm.
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