Fencing Familiarized: Or, A New Treatise on the Art of Sword Play
London/York: John Bell and C. Etherington [1771], 1771. First edition. Hardcover. 8vo. [4], v-xlix, [2], 3-196, [1] (page of publisher's advertisements) pp. Early twentieth-century half calf over marbled paper boards with the spine in six compartments, red morocco label lettered in gold on the spine. Marbled endpapers and pastedowns. With a half-title, and two title pages: one in English and one in French. Illustrated with a folding frontispiece and with one plate, and with seven folding plates. Castle 218-219. ESTC T135606. Thimm 210-211. Plates and the page of publisher's advertisements are dated 1771. The plates are beautifully done, showing the different forms and techniques in master-level fencing. Extraordinarily difficult to find in the first edition. Written by one of the most popular masters of the small sword in London. Castle states this work was one of the most commonly consulted of the period. An attractive publication on fencing and swordsmanship. Very Good. Item #000010914
Front joint gently split, binding is secure. Lacks the final leaf, which contains directions to the binder and one additional publisher's advertisement.
Price: $2,500.00