Beschreibung:

HEXHAM, HENRY The first [second] [third] part of the Art Military... [Part I] Delf[t]: for the lovers of the noble ART MILITARY, 1642; ... [Part I] Delf[t]: for the lovers of the noble ART MILITARY, 1642; [Part II] London: Robert Younge, 1638 (a reissue with London title of the Delft edition of Walpote); [Part III] The Hague: Francis vander Spruyt, 1640. Contemporary Dutch vellum gilt, with 19th century title label, all edges red. 13 1/8 x 8 inches (33 x 20 cm); [Part I]: [4], 1-40, 37-40, 45-55 [1], 12 pp., with 3 large folding plates (two extending to four pages), 9 full-page plates, and 40 part-page plates (several on one page, in some cases). All of the plates (excepting those on pp. 37-40) are in contemporary hand-coloring. The two volvelles found in some copies are not present, and there is no evidence that they ever were, but there are two ruled circles with several notes in a contemporary hand. [Part II]: [4], 18, 40 pp., with 19 plates, of which 15 are folding, all in contemporary hand-coloring. [Part III]: [4], 1-18, [2], 45-48, 25-32, [unnumbered], 33, 37-40, 21-28, 47-50, [4], 75, [two unumbered], 80-81, [unnumbered], with 18 illustrations, three of which are folding plates, all in contemporary hand-coloring. The binding soiled, a persistent but minor stain to the extreme fore-edge, finger-soiling here and there but generally a clean copy, the three great folding plates of the first part wrinkled through extensive misfolding, with an old repaired tear without loss to the first plate. Characteristically, the paginations mostly differ from copies with equivalent imprints as noted by ESTC, and the collations are eccentric. The appendix, Of the quarter for the ransoming of officers of all qualities, and souldiers... is not present in this copy. With the bookplate (and shelfmark) of the great bibliophile Prince Augustus Frederick Duke of Sussex, whose library was sold in 1843 by Christie and Manson. Because of the lack of anything approaching a definitive collation for this work, it is offered "as is," not subject to return. This is a work of the utmost bibliographical complexity, in which it appears almost every extant copy differs in some regard, and for which there is no definitive collation. Undoubtedly the large folding plates are a rare survival, and the majority of copies lack the volvelles, which were never present in this copy. It is an exceptionally handsome production, the most elaborate work published in England on military matters up to that date, with superb engraved plates relating to troop movements, fortifications, gunnery etc. It is frequently found in early coloring, as here, and presumably Hexham used the services of the Dutch publishers, who supported an army of colorists for maps and atlases. The plates in the second part are by Hendrik Hondius Hexham, who (appropriately enough) was born in Holland, Lincolnshire, began his military career as a page to Sir Francis Vere, the commander of English troops in the United Provinces, and later was on the staff of Sir Francis's brother, Horace. In his devotion to a soldier's life he seems to have been driven, at least in part, by doctrinal considerations. He both translated Dutch Protestant works into English, and wrote his own condemnation of Catholicism (A tongue combat lately happening between two English souldiers, 1623). In this regard he is not unlike the Elizabethan soldier authors a generation previous. He spent over forty years under arms, fighting against the Spanish in the Netherlands. ESTC S11968 (partial match); S119732 (an exact match for plates and collation); S119734 (partial match). See also Cockle; and Spaulding and Karpinski. C Property of a New York Lady