Idées d'un militaire pour la disposition des troupes confiées aux jeunes officiers dans la défense et l'attaque des petits postes.

2 parts in 1 vol., 4to: [10]-116, 60-[6] pp. (minor spotting, tables bound at end).

Contemp. blue boards, flat spine (some def., rubbed). Good, uncut copy with large margins.

First edition of this military treatise by Fossé (1734-1812), French infantry officer and mathematician. It contains information on military strategies (defending, attacking) and the best methods of producing maps and charts. Nicely illustrated with colour-printed plates (complete): headpiece depicting the coat of arms of the dedicatee "duc du Chatelet" and 11 attractive plates by Louis-Marin Bonnet after the author's designs. The plates, realistically and aesthetically drawn, present various sites and buildings with their suggested use in military situations, figuring i.a. a castle in the vicinity of Bern, fortifications near Lille, the village of Bar. This work is also renowned for its splendid typography that later on became known as the Didot-style.
Ref. Conlon 83:1106. - Brunet II:1354. - Graesse II:620.