Raschini - Fortificazione Moderna - 1748

Geometry, Attacks, and Defenses in the Eighteenth Century: Military Engineering for Officers
Nineteen folded sheets bound at the end of the volume, illustrating plans, sections, and elevations of fortified structures.
Antonio Soliani Raschini's Treatise of Modern Fortification fits within the tradition of 18th-century military treatises that transform the art of defense into a rational, geometric, and transmissible discipline. Explicitly designed for young Italian military personnel, the volume combines theory, practical application, and visual representation, entrusting folded plates with the task of making the complexity of fortified structures understandable. The emblem of Reason at the frontispiece is not merely a symbolic ornament but the programmatic declaration of the work: defensive warfare as an ordered science, based on calculation, measurement, and proportion. The 1748 Venetian edition clearly reflects this pedagogical ambition, situated at a time of full maturity in European technical-military culture, when fortification engineering became a common language between mathematical theory and command practice.
Market value
The antiquarian market prices the 18th-century editions of the Treatise on Modern Fortification generally between 1,200 and 1,500 euros, with fluctuations depending on the completeness of the folded plates, the quality of the copperplate frontispiece, and the overall condition. Well-preserved and complete copies of the nineteen folded plates are particularly sought after, especially within the technical-military and scientific collecting communities.

Physical description and condition
Binding in waiting-style paperback, handwritten title on the spine, uncut margins. Nineteen folded sheets placed at the end of the volume, illustrating plans, sections, and elevations of fortified structures. Part one and two. Frontispiece with a woodcut mark depicting Reason, accompanied by a title in the eyelet. Copperplate frontispiece drawn by Giuseppe Peroni and engraved by Giuseppe Patrini. Initials, borders, and woodcut tailpieces in the text. There is a tear on one plate between page 236 and page 237, with no loss of text or image. Manuscript plates in old ink sepia. In ancient books, with a multi-century history, some imperfections may be present, not always noted in the description. Pages: 2 unnumbered, 350, 2 unnumbered, (2).

Full title and author
Treatise on modern fortification for young Italian soldiers.
Venice, at Luigi Pavini, 1748.
Antonio Soliani Raschini

Context and Significance
Soliani Raschini's work is situated within the tradition of modern fortification, developed between the 17th and 18th centuries in direct response to the evolution of artillery and siege techniques. The treatise aims at the systematic training of military officers and engineers through a progressive presentation of theoretical principles, constantly supported by a rich iconographic apparatus. The plates analytically illustrate bastions, moats, curtain walls, and complex defensive systems, making the volume not only a theoretical tool but also a true operational manual. The adoption of clear language, combined with the systematic use of images, confirms the educational intent and the desire to transmit a standardized, shareable, and replicable technical knowledge.

Biography of the Author
Antonio Soliani Raschini was a mathematician and military engineer active in the 18th century. He served as the chief director of fortifications and factories, distinguishing himself as the author of technical texts aimed at training young military personnel. His work reflects a solid scientific background and direct knowledge of the practical needs of defensive engineering, during a period of progressive rationalization of military arts.

Printing history and circulation
Printed in Venice in 1748 by Luigi Pavini, the Treatise on Modern Fortification fits within the Venetian technical production aimed at a specialized but relatively broad audience, including military academies, engineers, and trainee officers. The presence of high-quality copperplate engravings and numerous folded plates indicates a careful print run and a significant typographic investment, consistent with the importance attributed to visual teaching in the 18th-century military field.

BIBLIOGRAPHY AND REFERENCES
SBN and WorldCat catalogs for the Venetian editions of the Treatise of Modern Fortification.
Catalogs of Italian military treatises from the 18th century.
Studies on modern fortification and military education in the eighteenth century.