SAINT MARTIN, Jean-Antoine de.
L'art de faire des armes réduit a ses vrais principes. contenant tous les principes nécessaires à cet art, qui y sont expliqués d'une manière claire et intelligible....
Vienna, Janne Schrämble, 1804. 4to. With an engraved portrait of the author on the verso of the first leaf, an engraved coat-of-arms of the Archduke of Austria, Charles Louis, to whom the work is dedicated, and 72 engraved plates, of which 1 coloured by a contemporary hand and 2 folding, depicting the various positions in fencing and sword-fighting. Contemporary half calf, spine gilt. [8], XII, [2], 92, [6], 57 [1 blank] pp.
€ 2,500
First edition of this rare fencing manual by Jean-Antoine de Saint-Martin, one of the most interesting French treatises on both classical fencing and the use of the two-handed sword published during the Napoleonic era. Intended primarily for the education of young noblemen and military officers, the work combines practical instruction with contemporary fencing theory and is extensively illustrated with engraved figures demonstrating the various guards, attacks, and defensive positions.
Although trained by Danet, Saint-Martin states that his method of fencing with the espadon was his own development. His system nevertheless shares many characteristics with contemporary military fencing while introducing several distinctive features, most notably his unusual preference for the engaging guard of quarte, a position rarely adopted by other masters and possibly derived from his background in small sword fencing. Numerous noblemen and experienced fencing masters contributed advice and observations during the preparation of the work, hoping to see their names associated with what quickly became a respected manual of arms. In very good condition. Pardoel 2314; Thimm, 252; Vigeant, 119-120.
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