AN ESSAY ON FIELD FORTIFICATION

PLEYDELL, J.C.  AN ESSAY ON FIELD FORTIFICATION, INTENDED PRINCIPALLY FOR THE USE OF OFFICERS IN INFANTRY.                                      

London: J. Nourse, 1768. 8vo. Contemporary Full-calf. xvi, 184 pages, 40 engraved plates, of which 6 folding. First English edition.

Uncommon edition with only fourteen copies recorded on OCLC in American libraries, including the Library of Virginia.  "Shewing how to trace out the ground, and construct in the easiest manner, all sorts of redoubts, and other field works; also to put into a proper state of defense, posts of different kinds, such as churches, church-yards, old castles, villages, small and large towns, etc."  "Translated from the original manuscript of an officer of experience in the Prussian Service."  The plates cover everything from basic geometric principles to designs for elaborate redoubts, and fortification lines around buildings.  Contemporary engraved armorial bookplate of Alexander Ogilvey, seventh Lord Banff of Scotland.  Very good.

 

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