(ARMY) Persy N Elementary Treatise on the Forms of Cannon V

Sale 2420 - Lot 56

Unsold

Estimate: $ 2,000 - $ 3,000

(ARMY.) Persy, N. Elementary Treatise on the Forms of Cannon & Various Systems of Artillery, bound with (as issued) Persy's Theory and Practice of Gunnery with its own 1833 title page. 20 plates. [1], 69; [1], 119, 18, 8, 36 pages, all being lithographically reproduced manuscript text. Folio, contemporary 1/2 calf, moderate wear; lacking front free endpaper and first flyleaf, two inches torn from the top margin of the title page, intermittent foxing, minor dampstaining to the final 8 plates only, the final two plates slightly cropped; uncut; several related pencil calculations in margins, early owner's flyleaf inscription. In a modern folding case. West Point, NY, 1832-33

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Additional Details

An unusual artillery text translated and printed at the United States Military Academy at West Point, the entirely being in lithographed manuscript facsimile. In the second work, the lithography is credited to George Aspinwall on page 119. It is followed by three appendices: "Notes on ricochet firing from the French of General Huguenin," "Service of a 10 inch mortar (abridged from Lallemand)," and "On the fabrication of cannon." A similarly printed 1835 work, "Military Pyrotechny for the use of the Cadets," is not included. The flyleaf inscription reads "J Clapham, USNavy." John Clapham (circa 1806-1864) was a gunner and pyrotechnist. Shaw & Shoemaker 14196; Twyman, Early Lithographed Books, 3.25 and page 66. None found at auction.