DÖGEN (DOEGEN), MATTHIAS.

Architecture Militaire Moderne, ou Fortification: confirmée par diverses histoires tant anciennes que nouvelles, & enrichie des Figures des principales Forteresses qui sont en l'Europe... Mise en Francois par Helie Poirier.

Amsterdam, Louys Elzevier, 1648.

Folio. (31 x 22 cm) Contemp. full mottled calf. Raised bands. Gilt compartments. Glit lettering. Upper joint strenghtened, leaving small nicks to leather along joint. Gilt lineborders on covers. Corners neathly repaired. Engraved title-page (depicting the author showing a geometrical drawing to William Prince of Orange). (10),547 pp., 4 unnumb. leaves with tables and 70 double-page engraved plates fortifications, towns etc.). Some leaves in the middle of the book with faint dampstaining in upper margin, otherwise clean. A stamp in right margin of the first leaf.

First French edition. This was the largest work hitherto published on fortification, and it is specially interesting for containing 41 plans of European fortresses. It was originally published in Latin the year before (1647) and a German translation appeared the same year as this French edition.
"Magnifique publication, orné de 29 figures de fortifications et de 41 plans de villes, en tout 70 grandes planches hors texte. L Elzevier a tiré parti de ces planches en publiant dès l'année suivante des traductions de l'ouvrage en francais et en allemand." (Willems, Les Elzevier No 1064). - Sotheran Second Suppl. No 20981 (French edition) - Brunet II:788. - Klaus Jordan No 910.

Order-nr.: 55930