First German edition of the first systematic manual of Dutch fortification, with the accompanying second German edition of a manual of geometry, both by Samuel Marolois (ca. 1572-1626/27), a Dutch military engineer who taught practical mathematics in The Hague, first published in French in 1615 and 1616 but here translated from the French editions of 1627, where Albert Girard for the first time greatly revised and expanded the Fortification. The plates of the Fortification show fortification plans, sections, elevations, perspective (including bird's-eye) views, profiles, etc., as well as building equipment and materials, cannons, and the layout of camps and barracks. Some of the fortification plans are based on real cities, including Coevorden and Oostende. The Geometria covers plane and solid geometry, surveying, mensuration, the making of maps and ground-plans, and fortification. Its plates include surveying instruments, fortification plans and a stunning and detailed view of a town on a waterway in a hilly landscape. A graphic curiosity is the use of a picture of an eye to indicate sighting lines.
With an old owner's name. With a couple creases and a marginal tear in the first engraved title-page, the letterpress leaves of the first work somewhat browned and occasional mostly marginal water stains (slightly affecting the last three lines of text or the foot of an engraved figure in a few leaves), but still in good condition, most of the plates very good, and with generous margins. Important and very well-illustrated manual of Dutch fortification. Cockle 821; Jordan 2383 & 2385 (5 & 1 copies); STCN (1 copy of each).