216 - [MILITARIA] ONOSANDER. The General of the Army. Translated from the Greek by Baron de Zur-Lauben.

[MILITARIA] ONOSANDER. The General of the Army. Translated from the Greek by Baron de Zur-Lauben. A very fine copy of the treatise on military art by the Greek Platonic philosopher Onosander. Attractive full morocco binding from the period, in the style of Derome. Paris, Vincent, 1757. In-12 (100 x 170 mm), full oxblood morocco, plain spine decorated with small metal tools and a central fleur-de-lis, brown title label, triple gilt fillet framing the covers with corner fleur-de-lis, gilt inner roulette, gilt fillet on the edges, all edges gilt. XLVIII and 150 pages, 1 folio of errata, headbands, initials, and tailpieces. Binding rubbed with some slight losses, corners slightly dented, rare foxing, more prominent on the first and last leaves. First edition of the French translation by Baron de Zur-Lauben (1720–1799), a Swiss military officer and historian. This famous treatise on military art, written in the 1st century by the Platonic philosopher Onosander, offers a theoretical and philosophical approach to command. In it, the author discusses the ethical virtues of the strategist, the composition of the general staff, the diplomacy of war, as well as logistics and field tactics (marches, encampment, foraging, spies, sentries, consulting soothsayers, battlefield tactics, etc.) A fine copy bound in full period morocco leather.