ESSAI GENERAL DE FORTIFICATION, ET D’ATTAQUE ET DEFENSE DES PLACES, DANS LEQUEL CES DEUX SCIENCES SONT EXPLIQUEES ET MISES L’UNE PAR L’AUTRE A LA PORTEE DE TOUT LE MONDE. TOME PREMIER, TROISIEME ET QUATRIEME. DES TENTATIVES A FAIRE POUR PERFECTIONNER L’ART DE FORTIFIER LES PLACES, ET QUELQUES IDEES SUR LE RELIEF ET LE COMMANDEMENT DES FORTIFICATIONS; POUR SERVIR DE COMPLEMENT ET DE SUITE A L’ESSAI GENERAL DE FORTIFICATION ET D’ATTAQUE ET DEFENSE DES PLACES. (THREE VOLUMES, VOL. I, III, & IV ONLY, OF FIVE)

Paris: Chez Magimel, Libraire pour l’Art Militaire, 1814. Early Edition. Half Leather. Very Good binding. Volumes 1, 3 and 4 only of a five volume set. First published in 1797, this being a corrected early edition. A French manual on bastioned fortifications, both addressing the defense and attack thereof. Described by sir Henry Yule’s Fortification for Officers of the Army as “probably the best existing view of the whole subject [of military fortifications], as its clear and lively style renders it also one of the most readable books in the engineer’s library.” Bousmard fell as a Prussian Officer during the defense of Danzig in 1807, but his views on fortifications were followed by many prominent military engineers of the time. Usual, minor foxing and toning throughout, with slight dusty odor. Scuffing and wear to the leather binding. Half calf over marbled paper, with leather labels and gilt decorations. (Henry Yule Fortification for Officers of the Army and Students of Military History pp. 182-183 accessed 11/19/19). Very Good binding.