"THERE IS SCARCE ANY BUT THE SWORD REMAINING OF ALL THE WEAPONS OF THE ANCIENTS": FIRST EDITION OF GUILLAUME LE BLOND'S A TREATISE OF ARTILLERY, 1746

LE BLOND, Guillaume. A Treatise of Artillery: or, of the Arms and Machines Used in War Since the Invention of Gunpowder. Being the First Part of Le Blond's Elements of War. London: E. Cave, 1746. Quarto, later burgundy and black cloth rebacked and recornered. $950.

First edition in English of French military historian Le Blond's respected treatise on military artillery, with 50 copper-engraved artillery-related illustrations on 14 folding plates.

Guillaume Le Blond was an 18th-century professor of mathematics, first as part of the grand stable of the King and later for the French royal children, particularly the children of Louis XIV. He was also a talented military historian. This work focuses on the history (and effectiveness) of artillery, from guns to bombs and features informative copper-engraved illustrations depicting specific types of military weapons. As this was one of the major 18th-century military treatises as well as a standard educational text, this work was undoubtedly used by officers in the French and Indian War, Revolutionary War, the Napoleonic Wars, and the War of 1812. The first edition was published in French in 1743. The second part of this work (also translated) was not published until 1748 and is quite rare; the first volume, taken alone, is considered a collectible first edition. With advertisement on final leaf of text. Occasional mispagination as issued. ESTC T133610. Early ink owner signature on title page. Date of publication written under roman numeral date on title page. Evidence of bookplate removal.

A few tiny tears to preliminary and concluding pages, very light scattered foxing and a few minor stains to interior, only minor wear to binding. An extremely good copy.