Beschreibung:

[CHIARI Pietro], “Memorie del barone di Trenck comandante de’ Panduri. Scritte da lui medesimo”, Amsterdam, 1754. FIRST EDITION. 8vo, pp. [4], 248. With the frontispiece depicting Baron Franz von der Trenck along his “Pandurs” light infantry. One of the few existing pieces of the first 1754 edition. The frontispiece engraved by Jacopo Leonardis is different from the more common (very rare though), 1764 edition. Baron Franz von der Trenck was a Germanspeaking nobleman who owned estates in today Croatia. He was the leader of the unit of “Pandurs”, or paramilitary troops in the Austrian army which specialized in frontier warfare and guerrilla tactics, into which he recruited mostly Croatian mercenaries, experienced fighters from the Austro Ottoman border. The Pandur soon became infamous for the atrocities they committed on the civilian population, some actions deemed brutal even by the standards of the day. The writer Chiari Pietro was an Italian catholic priest, playwright, novelist and librettist. One of the few biographies of Baron Trenck published in the mid 18th century. Original contemporary soft paper covers, ex libris cachet, sheets edgewear, light tear on righr edge of frontispiece, external wear. Extremely Rare.