ANGELO (Malevolti, Domenico 1716-1802) L'Ecole des Armes. Avec l'explication génèrale des principales attitudes et positions concernant l'Escrime. - London, Dodsley, 1763
Oblong folio. With 47 beautiful engr. plates. (60) ff.; repair to upper blank margin of one text leaf and to outer corner of errata, light uniform toning of the paper, and one plate misbound; overall a good large copy nicely bound in modern half calf, gilt spine.
First edition of this superb work on fencing. Angelo, the son of a wealthy Italian merchant of Leghorn, travelled widely upon the continent, studied horsemanship and fencing in Paris, and about 1755 he moved to England. In London he opened a school of arms which soon became a fashionable meeting place. Among his first pupils were the Duke of Devonshire, the Prince of Wales, Reynolds, Gainsborough, and many other distinguished persons. Encouraged by such a clientèle he brought out this outstanding work which rapidly established its position as an authority. It was used in Diderot’s ‘Encyclopédie’ and it certainly is amongst the most important books on the subject printed in England. Cf. DNB. Lipperheide 2974. Gelli, Scherma, 21: «Questa importantissima e splendida pubblicazione, nella quale le stampe sono considerate tanti piccoli capolavori per l'esecuzione e per l'eleganza».
Euro9300
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