Gentilini, Eugenio. Il perfeto bombardiero et real instruttione di artiglieri [...].

Venice, Alessandro de' Vecchi, 1626.

4to. 2 continuously paginated parts in one volume. (8), 143 ff. With numerous woodcut illustrations in the text, 2 full-page, 2 double-page size. Contemporary limp full vellum with handwritten spine-title.

 850.00

Fourth edition of this scarce compendium on artillery, ballistics, and fortification, intended "for instructional purposes at the Venetian school of gunnery" (cf. Jähns). Gentilini's only known work, it first appeared in 1592 under the title "Instruttione de' bombardieri", seeing 4 subsequent editions under varying titles ("Instruttione di artiglieri", "Il perfetto bombardiere") until 1626, and again in 1641.

Both parts are cast in the form of a dialogue between two brothers, Eugenio and Marino, about those aspects of fortification which are of greatest importance to artillery and its practitioners, foremost the placement and protection of the guns themselves. Part II has a separate title-page ("Breve discorso in dialogo sopra le fortezze").

Binding somewhat soiled and worn. Interior slightly wormed and waterstained; occasional brownstaining; a few marginal tears with no loss to text. Near-contemporary inscription "Bifamio et Gerusaleme" to pastedown. Small red wax seal and ownership of Jonas Lundi to title-page. From the collection of Thomas Fremantle, 3rd Baron Cottesloe (1862-1956), commander of the Territorial Army and president of the Society for Army History Research.

References

Cockle 669. USTC 4004548. Spaulding/Karpinski 109. Cf. Jähns 657 (1592 ed.). Graesse III, 50 (1598 ed.).

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