LEBLOND, GUILLAUME.:

ELEMENTS DE FORTIFICATION,

      Paris, Charles-Antoine Jombert, pere, Libraire du Roi pour l'Artillerie & le Genie, 1775. contenant la construction raisonnee des ouvrages de la fortification; les systemes des ingenieurs les plus celebres; la fortification irreguliere; le trace des redoutes, forts de campagne, etc. Avec un plan des principales instructions pour former les jeunes officiers dans la science militaire. Septieme edition, augmentee d'un discours sur l'utilite des places fortes; de nouvelles notes, et d'observations particulieres sur differents objets de la fortification. Seventh edition, enlarged, French text, 8vo, 200 x 125 mm, 8 x 5 inches, 32 folding sheets with a total of 38 engraved plates (numbered 1-37 but 2 plates numbered 3), pages (4), 96, 1-413, (5), including dictionary of fortification terms and index, bound in full mottled calf, raised bands, gilt decoration and gilt lettered morocco label to spine, all edges red. Binding worn, head and tail of spine chipped, upper hinge cracked but holding on the cords, lower hinge cracked at top 25 mm (1 inch), label badly chipped, corners showing cardboard at tips, front inner paper hinge cracked, armorial bookplate on front endpaper, signature on half-title, inscription at top of title page, small chip to 1 upper margin, 1 brief margin ink note, 1 word corrected, contents clean, some plates misfolded and protruding slightly from text block, fore-edge margin of some plates dusty or slightly worn or creased. Text block tight and firm. A good copy. Guillaume Leblond (1704-1781) was a French teacher of mathematics. He was the author of the article on L'Art Militaire in the Encyclopedie of Diderot and D'Alembert.This copy of the book was given to Colonel George Napier (1751-1804) in 1792 and has his signature on the half-title. He was the father of 3 distinguished officers in Wellington's army, one of whom was General Sir George Thomas Napier. The bookplate of the latter's son General W. C. E. Napier is on the front pastedown. He published his father's autobiography in 1885 and was also the author of an important work on outpost duty. Images sent on request.