1598 Modelles Artifices de Feu et Divers Instrumes de Guer by Joseph Boillot

The first edition of Joseph Boillot's unique and richly illustrated work on the use of gunpowder in warfare, in a handsome fresh leather binding (executed by Karen McGuire) with gilt spine tools alluding to an explosion. Boillot added ninety engravings (and one title page) to his work, which are lively and very interesting; perhaps, the most interesting engraving, is the devil giving the inventor of gunpowder a shoulder rub. This copy with 88 of the original 90 engravings, and two facsimiles to provide a complete record.

A scarce work on the market, at the time of listing this copy there is one other copy offered by Sokol books at just over $16,000 USD (using Vialibri to search).

This copy is missing three printed leaves (the title page, and two leaves at the end) and one blank (the last leaf), but I did print facsimile leaves, from a scanned online edition, on laid acid-free art paper and they are inserted (loose) so that you have the complete printed text, for reference. Those printed leaves are not meant to be replacements, but reference, as I imagine this will be a working copy (library, institution, etc.) as it is missing leaves.

About the Work -

Joseph Boillot, of Langres, studied mathematics, engineering and engraving. He was an engineer in the army of Henry IV, working as controller of the salt granary, and the gunpowder and saltpeter store. He produced this work, executing the engravings themselves, based on his expertise (and with some imagination); perhaps the title (roughly translated) best parlays the works intentions, Models of Fireworks and Various Instruments of War, With the Means of Using them to Besiege, Beat and Defend all Kinds of Places, Useful and Necessary to all Those Who Make a Profession of Arms. (Biographie Universal, V3-4, Desplaces, 1843, p. 571)

Boillot begins the book by exploring a classical theme of technology being an extension of the human's body, writing that the original instruments are the senses, and we find several unique engravings illustrating that concept to begin the work.

It's noted that Hanzelet stole ideas from Boillot, for military machines, claiming them as his own and "new", without mentioning Boillot.

The illustrations show bombs, ladders, traps, early forms of machine guns, battery guns, etc. Many of these ideas, at the time, were simply fancies, but would later be developed into true machines of war.

Also, valuably, Boillot records small details that are of importance to the history of the development of guns, such as the make-up of the gunpowder of the time, detailing even the size of the grains, which varied by implement. (The Origin of Artillery, Hime, p. 161, 1915)

Bibliographic Details -

Noted as the first work printed in Chaumon-en-Bassigny.

Universal Short Title Catalogue (USTC) numbers 67964 and 21154, found in 19 of the world's best libraries; copies at BnF, Cambridge, British Library, Christ Church, Houghton Library Harvard, the Folger, among others.

Brunet lists it in V1 at p.1064, in the 5th edition of the Manual de Libraire et de l'amateur de Livres.

Pettegree, Walsby and Wilkinson, in their work French Vernacular Books, reference it as 6277

Physical Attributes -

Measures approx. 23 x 15 x 1.5 cm. Quarto, signed in 6. Leather binding. Boards framed with double blind gilt fillet. Spine with five raised bands; five compartments with a central medallion emulating an explosion with dentelle dots and stars surrounding it, one compartment with the title in gilt, and the date of 1598 in gilt at the base of the spine. Marbled endpapers.

Pages - Lots of pagination errors, I'm not sure I caught them all; the collation speaks better to the completeness. (Title page missing), viii, 1-10, 10-46 (but 45=46, so two 46), 48-52, 52 but printed 25, 53-54, 55=75, 56, 57=55, 58-199 (62=64, 65=63)

Collation - (missing the title page), ROY dedication leaf (not signed), A-R6, S1 (S2-S4 missing, S4 was a blank)

88 of 90 original engravings present. 1598 decorative title page, and illustrations on leaves S2 and S3 are missing. Again, I did print them on acid-free, laid art paper, sized-to-match, so that all printed material is present for reference.

Condition -

Missing a total of four leaves, three of which had printing. The title page, the last two printed leaves, and a blank leaf at the end are not present in their original state.

See pictures. Binding fresh, no condition issues to note. Textblock top-edge darkened from time/dust. Refreshed endpapers, then old blank binder's endpaper with notes, shelf marks, and the impression of a round seal; also, chipping around edges.

Title page is missing. Text block toned throughout and with thumbing. Occasional dog-eared page, fox spot, ink spot, chip, etc. 2cm tear bttm edge B3. Some ghosting of the plates to facing pages. Various pressures on the plate impressions (darkness). Moisture marks throughout, at rear half most of top half has the mark. Page 58 bttm corner chipped. Leaf E2 with .5 cm tear at bttm edge. 62/64 paginated leaf with 3" repaired tear at fore-edge. Ink mark on H2. Doodling in the bottom margin of leaf H3 and repaired tear at bottom edge. H4 with 1" tear at bottom edge. Q1 to rear more wear to edges and darkening.

Missing last three leaves, two of which were printed on, and one was blank.