REIGLES MILITAIRES DU CHEVALIER MELZO TOUCHANT LA CAVALLERIE. MELZO, Lodovico. tick

FIRST FRENCH EDITION 1615. Translated from the Italian by Paul Varroy. Folio in sixes, approximately 315 x 200 mm, 12¼ x 8 inches, printed title followed by engraved pictorial title page depicting 2 knights on horseback firing guns, another knight with lance plus 2 allegorical figures, Pallas and Hercules, a battle in the background, 16 engraved plates on 15 sheets, 10 double page and 5 large folding engraved plates, 1 with 2 images 14 & 15 on 1 plate, all plates numbered on a page before or after, decorated initials, pages: [12], 1-209, [2], bound in full contemporary calf, expertly rebacked with original backstrip laid on, raised bands, gilt ruled compartments with small gilt motif, gilt lettering, original endpapers retained, armorial bookplate of Nathaniel Cholmley (appointed Sheriff of Yorkshire in 1754) on front pastedown. Gilt on spine slightly dull, very small neat repairs to corners, covers slightly marked, top edge of plate 3 slightly ragged, not near image, half-title browned at edges, age-browning to 2 leaves, tiny closed tear to 1 top margin, strip of pale browning to blank side of 2 plates, tiny hole due to paper flaw in plate 12, neatly repaired on blank side, no loss of image. A very good tight copy. Lodovico Melzo (1558-1617) born in Milan to an important Milanese family became a member of the Knights of St. John of Jerusalem and he represents the professional Italian soldier of the period. He was Lieutenant General of the Spanish Cavalry in the Low Countries at the Truce of 1609. The very good large plates show single cavalrymen, battle scenes, troop dispositions and exercises etc. many against landscape backgrounds with trees, villages, castles etc. and labourers working in the fields. This famous work on military horsemanship was first published in Italian in Antwerp in 1611. It was translated into English, Spanish and German as well as French. Sotheby's Library of the Earls of Macclesfield Part 10, No. 3653; Cockle, Military Books to 1642, No.723. MORE IMAGES ATTACHED TO THIS LISTING, ALL ZOOMABLE. FURTHER IMAGES ON REQUEST. POSTAGE AT COST.