One of the 16th century's most important military treatises

Fronsperger, Lienhart. Fünff Bücher von Kriegs Regiment und Ordnung [...].

(Frankfurt am Main, David Zöpfel), 1558.

Folio (222 x 332 mm). (6), 131 ff., final blank f. With 20 woodcuts in the text.

(Bound with) II: Floridus (Sabinus), Franciscus. Kriegsübung dess fürtrefflichsten und streitbarsten ersten Römischen Kaisers Julii [...]. Strasbourg, Hans Knobloch & Georg Messerschmidt, 1551. (4), 153 ff., final blank f.

(Bound with) III: Stumpf, Johannes. Keyser Heinrychs des vierdten Hertzogen zu Francken und am Rhyn etc. fünfftzigjärige Historia [...]. Zurich, Christoph Froschauer (the Elder), 1556. (10), 134 (instead of 137) ff. With 104 woodcuts in the text. Contemporary blindstamped leather on four raised double bands with two clasps; handwritten title to uppermost spine compartment.

 8,500.00

Second edition of one of the 16th century's most important treatises on warfare and military history, previously published in 1555. The fine woodcuts are not by Jost Amman, as are those of his well-known and similarly titled "Kriegsbuch", but rather were cut by an unidentified artist after drawings by Virgil Solis.

Bound with this rare and well-preserved work are two other contemporaneous editions of (military) historiography: Heinrich von Eppendorff's German translation of "De C. Iulii Caesaris praestantia" by Franciscus Floridus in a fine Strasbourg impression, and a Swiss chronicle of the times and rule of Emperor Henry IV (1050-1106), characterized by intense conflicts with the Pope (lacking the final three leaves and blank, containing "Ein Sendtbrieff Sant Ulrychen, Graaffen zu Kyburg").

Slight browning throughout, waterstaining to gutter near the end. Handwritten ownership of N. V. Wernsdorff, dated 1559, on front pastedown, with note about his having passed away in Denmark and a slightly later ownership by Degenhard Grimm. Latterly in the library of the Viennese collector Werner Habel (1939-2015) with his handwritten and stamped ownership, dated 1978, to flyleaf. Binding well preserved with finely roll-tooled designs to covers; both clasps intact.

References

I: VD 16, F 3129. Adams F 1075. Jähns 549. Not in BM-STC German.

II: VD 16, F 1675. Adams F 636. Muller II, 340, 58 & III, 443, 27. Ritter 872. Not in BM-STC German.

III: VD 16, S 9869. BM-STC German 839. Not in Adams.

Stock Code: BN#49023 Tags: ,