51 - [GIFFART].

[GIFFART]. French Military Art, for the Infantry. Containing the drills and handling of weapons, for both officers and soldiers, illustrated with engravings drawn from life. With a brief summary of the drills as they are practiced today. Paris, Pierre Giffart, 1696. Small 8vo, (10) leaves including frontispiece, 178 pp. (excluding pp. 13–14 [fig. 7] and 153–154 [fig. 77]). Contemporary fawn sheepskin, ribbed spine, title label, decorated panels (binding rubbed, split joints, worn caps and corners, a few loose quires, tear with no loss in fig. 37, some water stains and marginal foxing). Rare first edition. A historical manual providing detailed instructions on the drills and handling of weapons by officers and soldiers of Louis XIV’s Infantry. Illustrated with 83 figures of soldiers in uniform, engraved in black on copper within the text, each bearing a caption engraved on the plate and accompanied by detailed explanatory notes opposite. With an engraved frontispiece and a large engraved title band. Work dedicated to Marshal Duke of Boufflers. Generally attributed to Giffart (notably by Barbier); the BnF cites Colombon (or Collombon, a master-at-arms and officer from Lyon) as the author. UNIFORMS. COSTUMES. Colas, 1251.