Hugo, De militia equestri antiqua et nova, Antwerp, 1630, contemporary calf with arms of De Thou

HUGO, HERMANN

De militia equestri antiqua et nova. Antwerp: Balthasar Moretus, 1630

folio (315 x 208mm.), engraved title-page by Cornelius Galle, woodcut initials and tailpieces, engraved illustrations, 6 double-page engraved plates, woodcut printer's device on final verso, with final blank leaf, contemporary tan calf gilt with the arms of Jacques-Auguste de Thou and his second wife Gasparde de La Chastre on covers [Olivier 216 fer 7] and their IAG monogram [Olivier 216 fer 9] in spine compartments, de Thou shelf-mark in ink at head of upper cover and on inside front cover ("D 30"), spine slightly chipped at head and foot

The author was a Jesuit priest (Jesuit education included the military arts) and he described in this work the nobility of the mounted soldier from antiquity to the modern day, using earlier technical works on cavalry by Wallhausen and Melzo as well as modern commentaries on classical texts by Lipsius and others. Hugo also wrote an account of the 1624-1625 Siege of Breda (see lot 247).

LITERATURE:

Cockle 733; STCV 6607570; USTC 1003298

PROVENANCE:

probably one of the sons of Jacques-Auguste de Thou (as he died in 1617), or his widow Gasparde de La Chastre, arms on binding; "Thorpe 1835 say £1-10s", pencil note on inside front cover