MAROZZO, Achille (1484-1553). Opera nova de Achille Marozzo Bolognese, Maestro Generale, de l'arte de l'Armi. Venice: Marchio Sessa, 1550.

Small 4to (210 x 154 mm). Title printed within elaborate woodcut border, 48 woodcuts (most full-page). (Title-page supplied and possibly in facsimile, leaves 146 & 147 and a few others likely supplied, staining.) Later vellum (possibly a remboitage?), hand-lettered on top edge and spine (some minor soiling). Provenance: Early annotations on recto and verso of final leaf; small stamp on title-page mostly effaced.

Third edition of Marozzo's treatise, considered the first substantial manual on duelling, published for the first time in 1536 and reset and reprinted ca 1540. According to Wiktenauer, the present edition uses the original typeset from the 1536 edition. The woodcuts, depicting the use of the sword, pike, and dagger, are signed "b" or "b. R." and have been attributed to Roman engraver Francesco Barattini or Venetian engraver Giovanni Britto. Cockle 744 note (citing an edition of 1517 which is actually a reprint of the 1568 edition with an incorrect date); Mortimer Italian II 287 (the 1536 edition); Pardoel 89; Thimms p. 181.