14 parts in 1 vol. in-folio oblong (307 x 408 mm). Engraved 'Introduction à la Fortification' title with dedication to the Duc de Bourgogne to part 1, with a date seemingly of 1696 semi-erased, and 4 further engraved dedication leaves (of 14) to Monseigneur le Dauphin, 306 ENGRAVED PLATES, of which 14 folding including 3 half-page city plans with letterpress descriptions in French and Dutch, 14 typographic title-pages printed in red and black, part 1 with 2pp. letterpress list of contents and advertisement Condition: plate 14 trimmed at bottom edge into image, plates 195-197 and 199 cut down and mounted, about half-a-dozen plates browned and spotted, part 6 with light, insignificant vertical creasefold to all plates. In this copy, the plates are numbered either in manuscript or with engraved plate numbers, the numeration including but not numbering the titles. It seems that the 14 folding plates present here only appear in this edition. Contemporary calf (rebacked, preserving original gilt spine, extremities lightly rubbed)
Ref. Pastoureau Fer IX H ; Van der Krogt IV-1, 482:2, cat. NHSM p. 51. This extremely comprehensive collection of maps, plans and views of fortifications of European cities in France, Germany, and the Netherlands also includes a number of other regions, including Malta, Constantinople, Tripoli and several of the New World, including a plan of Quebec (Kershaw 279; bound in part 7). Conceived by de Fer in response to the rise in interest and popularity of Vauban's systems of fortifications (one of his plans appears on the engraved 'Introduction a la Fortification' title), it was originally published between 1690-1695. In this edition, Mortier copied exactly de Fer's work, re-engraved the plates, and added a 13th and 14th part comprising a sea atlas of the coasts of France and Spain. This is the most complete set of Mortier's edition to appear at auction for 30 years. Pastoureau : ""Contient les copies des Forces de l'Europe et du Théâtre de la Guerre dans les Pays-Bas, ainsi qu'un atlas de 43 pl.: Les Costes de France et de'Espagne, sur l'Ocean et sur la Mer Mediterrannée
