THE PERFECT TRAINING OF THE ANCIENT SOLDIER

Mora, Domenico. Il soldato di m. Domenico Mora, bolognese, gentilhuomo grisone, et caualliere academico Storditi, nel quale si tratta di tutto quello, che ad un uero soldato, & nobil caualliere si conuiene sapere, & essercitare nel mestiere dell'arme. Et questa, secondo l'ordine da noi posto è la quarta gioia congiunta all'anella della nostra collana historica. Venice: appresso Gabriel Giolito di Ferrarii, 1570. [at colophon:] In Venetia: per Giouan Griffio, 1569.

4to (208x145 mm), modern paperboards, ff. [7 out 8], 254, [2].
It lacks the last preliminary leaf, containing the portrait of a cavalier. Text complete.

13 woodcuts in the text, 26 letter diagrams showing troop formations (one full-page).

Rare first and only edition, second issue, of Mora's illustrated handbook on the training of the perfect soldier.

The first book is devoted to the duties of a commander and his senior officers; the second book treats infantry tactics and battle orders - the author advocates separate formations of pike-men and harquebusiers, each made up in rows of six, marching in parallel order for mutual support. The third book is on fortification, and appears to be largely based on Maggi & Castriotto's Fortificatione delle città; and the fourth book instructs on drawing up plans for siege craft and on guarding a conquered city.

Provenance: Contemporary signature at the top of title-page (partly cancelled).

References: Adams M-1738; Bongi II, pp. 300-304; Breman 218; Cockle 539; Johns 726 & 820; Jordan 2598; Mortimer 314; Riccardi II,182; Spaulding & Karpinski 29. See also C. Promis, Gl'ingegneri e gli scrittori militari bolognesi del XV e XVI secolo in «Miscellanea di storia italiana», vol. 4 (1863), pp. 685-6. Cnce, 26752. OCLC, 562055066 (only one copy in USA, located in the US Army, Mil Hist Institute in Carlisle), 492765629 (2 copies in France) and 771729229 (one copy in UK).

Light foxing and small waterstains, but a good copy.