Modern fortification: or, elements of Military Architecture. Practised and Designed By the Latest and most Experienced Ingeneers of this last Age, Italian, French, Dutch, and English. And the manner of Defending and Besieging forts and places. With the use of a Joynt-Ruler or Sector, for the speedy Description of any Fortification

[16], 127pp, [1]. With an engraved frontispiece (a diagram of the 'joynt ruler or sector' referred to in the title) included in the collation as A1, and 10 further engraved plates of diagrams and plans on nine sheets (plates III-IV are conjoined, and as in other copies appear to have had their numbering altered on the engraving plate). Finely bound in gilt-tooled twentieth-century speckled-calf, contrasting morocco lettering- pieces. T.E.G. A fine copy externally, with uniform light browning to text. The frontispiece has suffered some slight loss, and has been remargined, and the final engraved plates are both laid down, with loss to the lower corner at gutter. Recently dispersed from the Cottlesloe Military Library 'probably the most extensive private collection of early printed books focused on military matters', with the bookplate of Thomas Francis Fremantle, 3rd Lord Cottesloe (1862-1965) to FEP. This rare seventeenth-century manual by English mathematician, surveyor and ordnance officer Sir Jonas Moore (1617-1679), includes, in addition to accounts of the 'Modern Fortifications used here, and in all Neighbouring Countries', detailed illustrations of contemporary siege craft tactics, applicable to both attack and defence: 'After a Stormy or Rainy night, to make a great and brisk Sally about Sun-rising or break of Day, as Opportunity shall admit, with a quantity of Nayls to cloy the Guns, Pick-axes, Spades, Shovels to throw down their Lodgments, with Flails, Spears, Manches de Revers, and other terrible Instruments; one dozen of Granadiers, a quantity of Musquetoons to make a considerable Assault; to throw down the Works in such manner, that the Enemy coming to regain Ground may lye open to the Shot from Out-works, which ought then well furnished and in rediness to make a continual firing to favour the Retreat of the Sally'. Rare; ESTC locates copies at eight British institutions, and just five elsewhere (Huntington, Minnesota, Toronto, UCLA, and Yale). ESTC R268, Wing M2576. Size: 8vo.…