AN EXTRACT OF THE FIRST PART OF THE ART OF WAR, IN FRENCH, IN THE BEAUTIFUL MOROCCO-GILT ARMORIAL BINDING OF THE HOUSE OF BOURBON-PENTHIÈVRE
PUYSEGUR, Jacques Francois de Chastenet de. Extrait de la Premiere Partie de l’Art de la Guerre… Avec des Observations & Réflexions Traitées en Abregé. Paris: Charles-Ant. Jombert and Hochereau, et al., 1752. Tall 12mo, contemporary full brown morocco, elaborately gilt-decorated spine and covers with the armorial crest of the House of Bourbon-Penthièvre. $2500.
Early edition of the first part of the Art of War, with observations and reflections, beautifully bound in the morocco-gilt armorial binding of the House of Bourbon-Penthiévre.
Marshal Jacques François de Chastenet de Puységur (1656-1743) served with distinction as the most experienced Marshal of Louis XIV. A lifetime of experience combined with devoted study of the classic texts on warfare went into his Art de la Guerre. His son, who also became a Marshal of France, published his father’s classic on war posthumously. Volume II analyzes a hypothetical battle staged between the Seine and the Loire Rivers, and discusses several actual campaigns conducted by Puységur’s predecessor, the Vicomte de Turenne, Marshal General of France (Henri de la Tour d’Auvergne). First published in 1748 in folio format. Brunet IV:989. This book bears the contemporary binding of the House of Bourbon-Penthièvre. The House of Bourbon-Penthièvre was an illegitimate branch of the House of Bourbon, therefore descending from the Capetian dynasty. It was founded by the duc de Penthièvre, the only child and heir of the comte de Toulouse, the youngest illegitimate son of Louis XIV of France and the marquise de Montespan, and his wife, Marie Victoire de Noailles, the daughter of Anne Jules de Noailles, duc de Noailles. Suggested provenance in pencil and ink on front endpaper.
Interior unusually lovely, only slight rubbing to armorial binding, gilt quite bright. A beautiful copy in about-fine condition.