( 1585 - 1638 )
In-folio (mm 310x216). 8, 213 [i.e. 218], [32] pp. Half parchment binding of the 20th century. Beautiful copper titlepage engraved in the arms of Dedicatario Ferdinando II, 1 full-page portrait of the author within elaborate architectural frame engraved by Franciscus Pellegrinus Anconitanus (dated 1628) and 52 numbered plates 1-50 of which 43 full-page out of text and 1 folded several times at the end. Mistakes in the numbering and in the signature of the files, indicated in the colophon, but a very complete and in excellent condition copy. Rare first edition of one of the few standard Italian works of the 17th century on the construction of fortresses. The military architect PP Floriani (1584-1638), originally from Macerata, was sent to Malta by Pope Urban VIII in 1634 after working in Spain, Algeria, Austria, Hungary, Prague and Bratislava as an officer and military engineer. Fortifications were involved . From this richly illustrated book of fortifications, a second (much more frequent) edition was published in Venice in 1654 and finally a third in London in 1725. - (Few golden plates, minimal foxing in some places). - Overall a very good and complete copy of this rarity. Very poor first edition of this illustrated encyclopedia of all parts and fortification tools, one of the few standard Italian works on the subject published in the 17th century. P. P. Floriani (1584-1638) from Macerata was an engineer employed by Pope Urabnus VIII. When Floriani inspected the Valletta front, he wrote that these could not be adapted to the artillery war prevailing at the time. The war was changing and artillery was being used more and more. A second edition of this important book was published in Venice in 1654, a third in London in 1725. Cf. Cockle 825a. - Graesse II, 602; Pohler III, 695; Solo 1 copia nella NUC (Newberry Library, Chicago).
