"A vivid and accurate portrait of the military affairs of his time"

Khevenhüller, Ludwig Andreas. Exercitium zu Pferd und zu Fuß [...].

$2,171.00

The final volume of the second edition of the "Observations-Puncte", Khevenhüller's grand three-part collection of army service directions, hailed as the first drill-book in military history. This section on the cavalry first appeared separately in 1726, then again in 1734; it is here added to the "Observations-Puncte" for the first time. "The most interesting study of the cavalry produced in the age of Charles VI" (Jähns II, 1688). Khevenhüller's (1683-1744) military books long formed "the basis for all organizational and tactical institutions in the Imperial army (Khevenhüller was an Austrian field marshal) and also provide a vivid and accurate portrait of the military affairs of his time" (ADB).

Boards rubbed. Uncut and untrimmed copy, with the sometimes-lacking final leaf of publisher's ads and instructions for the bookbinder. Very rare. Provenance: 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.