GHEYN, Jacob de. - Lot 80

GHEYN, Jacob de. Maniement d'armes d'arquebuses, mousquetz, et piques . En conformité de l'ordre de monseigneur le prince Maurice, prince d'Orange, comte de Nassau gouverneur et capitaine général de Geldres, Hollande, Zeelande, Utrecht, Overyssel. Represented by figures, by Jacques de Gheijn. Ensemble les enseignemens par escrit, a l'utilite de tous amateurs des armes, et aussi pour tous capitaines & commandeurs, pour par cecy, pouvoir plus facillement enseigner a leurs soldats inexperimentez, l'entier et parfait maniement dicelles armes à Amsterdam chez Robert de Baudous, avec privilege de l'Empereur, du Roy de France, & des nobles & puissans seigneurs messeigneurs les Estatz generaulx des Provinces unies en 1608. In-folio in full marbled calf with gilded fillets, ribbed spine, gilded decorations in the caissons, and title page. 3 parts in one volume of (5), 39 plates, (4), 41 plates, (4), 29 plates. A magnificent copy, with the binding restored, the plates washed and the rare paper gaps filled. These high-quality restorations give the work a very fresh look and make it appear much younger than its age. The engravings by Jacob de Gheyn le Jeune (1565-1629), a Dutch painter and engraver, are exceptionally fine: a great sense of detail, both on movement and on fabrics, in keeping with the Mannerist fashion of the time. Pen-and-ink script. 109 plates out of the 117 listed in the table of contents. When the volume was restored, the missing plates were marked with blank sheets (no doubt to facilitate future plate insertion). Missing from the first series are plates no. 12 (Pull); no. 37 (Hold the musket on the fork); no. 38 (Hold the musket on the fork, as a counterweight, with the left hand only) and plate no. 43 (You are ready"). Missing from the second series, plate no. 19 (Blow the bassinet). Missing from the last series are plate no. 25 (Place the pike against the right foot and Draw the sword), as well as plates no. 30 and no. 32 (First beat and third beat). A copy in very good condition.