[Fourquevaux], Instructions sur le faict de la guerre, Paris, 1548, red morocco, Mornay-Soult copy

[FOURQUEVAUX, RAYMOND DE BECCARIE DE PAVIE, BARON DE]

Instructions sur le faict de la guerre. Paris: Michel Vascosan and Galiot du Pré, 1548

folio (310 x 195mm.), fine woodcut initials, with final blank leaf, modern red morocco by Hardy-Mesnil with the gilt arms of Mornay-Soult de Dalmatie [Olivier 706], spine gilt in compartments, gilt edges

FIRST EDITION. Fourquevaux was a French diplomat, soldier and politician who held various posts within the French government, including Ambassador to Spain. He mentions that he has used Machiavelli as a primary source, and indeed his text is mostly a reworking of Machiavelli as applied to the service of François I.

His Instructions sur le faict de la Guerre proved popular and was translated (somewhat ironically) into Italian (see lot 260) and English (see lot 185).

LITERATURE:

BP16 113215; Cockle 515; USTC 40617

PROVENANCE:

Pierre, comte de Mornay-Soult de Dalmatie (his library dispersed by auction in 1874)