OZANNE, (Nicolas-Marie).

Marine Militaire ou Recueil des differens Vaisseaux qui servent a la Guerre suivis des Manoeuvres qui ont le plus de Raport au Combat ainsi qua l'Ataque et la Deffense des Ports.Paris, the author, J. François Chereau, [1762]. 8vo. A wholly engraved book, with a title-page in an architectural frame, armorial dedication illustration with allegorical figures, 50 engraved leaves (1 folding), including 44 with illustrations of ships. Modern half calf.

      (2), 50 engraved ll. Ornamentstichsammlung 1463 (later ed.?); Cat. NHSM, p. 750 (later ed.?); Cohen, Livres a Gravures, col. 778; Lewine, p. 399; Polak 7234; NBG XXXVIII, cols 1021-1022; Thieme & Becker XXVI, p. 110. First edition of a wholly engraved and well illustrated account of battleships, other naval vessles, and naval manoeuvres. The title is followed by an illustrated engraved dedication to (Etienne François), Duke of Choiseul (1719-1785) facing the unnumbered leaf 1 with the dedication text. Leaves 2 and 3 contain the “Avertissement” and table of contents, leaves 4 to 50 illustrate and describe battleships with 40 to 120 guns, other types of ships, battle orders, a windward and leeward attack, chasing an enemy ship, forcing the enemy to fight, avoiding a fight, forcing a passage through an enemy line, etc. The folding leaf 50 also contains a list of terms with explanations of their meanings. Engravings 1 to 49 measure 17 x 11 cm, mostly with an illustration at the top measuring 6.5 x 11 cm. In engravings 5 to 20 each illustration shows a different kind of ship, with notes about it and sometimes a decorative tailpiece. Most of the illustrations in engravings 23 to 48 show sea battles or manoeuvres, with an explanatory text and in most cases a plan at the foot showing the positions and movements of the ships.Nicolas-Marie Ozanne (1728-1811), known as Ozanne l’aîné, worked as an artist for the French navy. The dedication describes the Duke of Choiseul as (among other things) Minister of the Marine, a post he held from 1761 to 1766. Polak and other sources date the first edition 1762, which appears to be consistent with the imprint and watermark of the present copy. The imprint reads “chez l’auteur, rue S. Thomas du Louvre. ...” and “chez J. François Chereau rue S. Jacques aux 2. Piliers d’Or.” This was the widow Chereau’s address in 1763, whereas some copies omit the two dedication leaves and give an address on rue de Mathurins, probably after the Duke of Choiseul’s disgrace in 1770 (the firm is recorded there in 1770, though they used the old address again in the 1780s). Parts of the watermark and the papermaker’s name are difficult to see in the present copy, but the countermark includes “FIN/.../AUVERGNE 1742.”The title-page has a small abrasion and small holes in the background shading and some small drops of glue, one pinhole runs through most of the leaves, and a minor water stain in the foot margin of a few leaves. Still a good copy of a wholly engraved and well-illustrated work on battleships and naval strategy.