Ufano, Artillerie, Frankfurt, 1614, modern half red morocco

UFANO, DIEGO

Artillerie, c'est a dire vraye instruction de l'artillerie et de toutes ses appurtenances [translated by Johann Theodor de Bry]. Frankfurt: Egenolf Emmel, 1614

folio (286 x 187mm.), title within engraved border, engraved armorial, woodcut initials and headpieces, 26 (of 28?) engraved plates (21 folding or double-page, the first cut in half horizontally), modern half red morocco, gilt edges, a few plates shaved; as plate count uncertain, sold not subject to return

First published in Brussels in 1613 and quickly translated by de Bry into French (as here) and German. Ufano was influenced by Collado's manual on artillery (see lot 104), and Ufano's work was the basis for Norton's The Gunner (see lot 344 for the 1628 edition) and Eldred's The gunners glasse (lot 137).

Ufano had fought with the Spanish army in the Low Countries and was Captain of Artillery in Antwerp. The illustrations in this work depict not just cannons (and the practicalities of transporting them) but also a pontoon bridge, an underwater suit, shells and decorative fireworks.

LITERATURE:

Cockle 684; Palau 342945; USTC 2142993 (not found in VD17)

PROVENANCE:

Thomas Francis Fremantle, armorial bookplate, purchased from Pickering & Chatto, 8 February 1901, £1-2-6