Polybe, Folard, Thuillier - Histoire de Polybe [125 planches] - 1727-1730

Original edition of this important work, which marks a milestone in the theorization of military art. Indeed, the military man and strategist Jean-Charles de Folard (1669-1752), under the guise of presenting a new version of the work, the Greek historian, develops his ideas by commenting on Polybe's text.

Beautifully illustrated copy in the first edition, comprising 125 / 136 engraved plates outside the text (including the frontispiece), of which 80 are fold-outs, as well as several engraved headers:

T.1: 41 plates out of 43, including 22 fold-out // T.2: 34 plates out of 35, including 18 fold-out // T.3: 17 plates, including 12 fold-out // T.4: 21 plates, including 12 fold-out // T.5: 9 plates, including 7 fold-out // T.6: 3 fold-out plates.

Contains the famous treatise on the column, a military formation invented by Folard, and the Treatise on the Attack and Defense of Fortresses by the Ancients.

Period-era brown calf leather bindings with a five-raised band spine decorated with gilt-tooled panels, mosaic pieces. Red edges.

Condition: Solid bindings, worn leather on the covers, edges, and nerves. Corners perforated. Four covers trimmed. Interior in good condition, despite some light damp stains and scattered foxing (quite rare). Overall in good condition.


Polybe, Folard, Thuillier

History of Polybius, newly translated from Greek by Dom Vincent Thullier, Benedictine of the Congregation of Saint Maur. With a Commentary or a body of Military Science, enriched with Critical and Historical Notes, where all the major parts of war—whether offensive or defensive—are explained, demonstrated, and illustrated with diagrams. A very useful work not only for General Officers but also for all those who follow the military profession. By M. De Folard, Knight of the Military Order of Saint Louis, Master of Infantry (6 volumes + supplement, 136 plates).

In Paris, at Chez Pierre Gandouin; Julien-Michel Gandouin; Pierre-François Giffart; Nicolas-Pierre Armand, 1727-1730.

6 volumes in-4 of 26 x 19 cm; lxxx-286pp. + xlii 510 pp. + xlii 434 pp. + xlviii 1 plate. 482 pp. 1 f. + xxxviii-508 pp. + c-558 pp.