Illustrated, military, Roman. 1607 De Re Militari, by Publius Vegetius Regnatus.

Vegetius' (4th century A.D.) four "book" work on the Roman military (tactics, equipment, training, etc.) printed by the venerable Plantin press, including many illustrations.

This edition expanded with additional works and commentary. The full descriptive title, roughly translated, perhaps best describes the work -

"A collection of military books by the illustrious Flavius Vegetius Renatus and several other ancient authors. Also included are other smaller works by the same author, along with Frontinus's Stratagems. All have been corrected, and some are now brought forth for the first time by Peter Schrijver. With commentaries or notes by Godescalc Stewechius and Franz Modius."

The illustrations draw one into this work and are quite illustrative of the surprising technology and innovation the Roman military had.

During the Middle Ages and 16th century, this work was used as something of a field-handbook for military leaders (highly regarded) and was reprinted many times after the invention of the printing press.

The binder did not include four introductory leaves (first gathering) to the commentary book of Stewechius (title page, etc.), likely concluding it was fluff with no added value.

Provenance -

The bookplate of the Count M. B. Achille Kuhnholtz-Lordat is found on the pastedown, he was a professor of medicine, librarian and author in Montpellier.

Also with the ticket of the Rome, Italy book shop of C.E. Rappaport.

Bibliographic Details -

Universal Short Title Catalogue (USTC) number 1030337, not rare, found in many of the world's best libraries.

Worldcat OCLC catalogue number 29096467

Physical Attributes -

Measures approx. 24 x 18 x 6 cm. Hardcover, with vellum corners and a leather spine. Spine with five raised bands; one compartment with the author in gilt. Gatherings of four (4to). Text block edges sprinkled red. Illustrated throughout (including the commentaries).

Pages - viii, 102, [8], 1-208, missing the a gathering of four leaves here, [4], 347, [1], 24, [32]

Collation - *4, A-O4, aa-pp4, qq2, Aa-Zz4, Aaa-Ccc4, missing "a" gathering of commentary (4 leaves), b-z4, aa-yy4, alpha4, beta4, gamma4, Aa-Dd4

Condition -

See pictures. Wear to binding edges (board edges, joints, corners. Some light rubbing to rear board. Spine with a little rubbing and a few small wormholes at bottom compartment. Top edge darkened a little by dust. Some bookseller notes to pastedown/endpapers and a bookplate and bookseller ticket on pastedown. Several small worm tracks in gutter and front and rear board.

Text block toned throughout and with occasional thumbing, dog-eared page, candle ember mark, foxing. Title page with messy ex libris, in ink, in an old hand and an ink dot near fore-edge. Some gatherings more foxed/toned than others (C, for example); paper quality? Moisture mark in bottom margin of Pp3 (ink spill? Traces of it continue at bottom edge for a few gatherings). Commentaries at rear more foxed/toned. Last few leaves quite toned. I didn't see any worming in the text block, seems confined to the gutter and boards.