[Rarebooks] NightOwl Sale: Edmonds's COMMENTARIES OF C. JULIUS CAESAR, OF HIS WARRES IN GALLIA, AND THE CIVILE WARRES (1655)

[Ezra Tishman]

Ezra from Aardvark opens the back door of the office and hears the call (Hoo Hoo Hoo HOO, Hoo, Hoo) of a Great Horned Owl, up in one of the big Douglas Firs in the back field.
Here’s what I have tonight, complete with marbling upon pages from the biblical books of John and Acts.
Edmondes, Clemont (Sir). THE COMMENTARIES OF C. JULIUS CAESAR, OF HIS WARRES IN GALLIA, AND THE CIVILE WARRES BETWIXT HIM AND POMPEY, w i t h THE EIGHTH COMMENTARY OF THE WARRES IN GALLIA; WITH SOME SHORT OBSERVATIONS UPON IT; w i t h THE LIFE OF CAESAR, AND AN ACCOUNT OF HIS MEDALLS. REVISED, CORRECTED, AND ENLARGED Translated into English: with Many excellent and judicious Observations Thereupon: As also the Art of our Modern Training, or Tactick Practise;. London, England: R. Daniel (and are to be sold by Henry Tvvyford in Vine-Corut Middle Temple, Nathaniel Ekins at the Gunne in St. Paul's Church-Yard, and Iohn Place at Furnivalls Inne Gate in Holburn, [1600] 1655. Later printing. Folio. Contemporary brown diced calf with contrasting spine labels, gilt on black. Rebacked Five raised bands, including two thick, false bands at top and bottom of spine. Gilt dentelles to all edges, nearly all gilt rubbed away. Two-inch closed crack separation to leather of front joint, and an old closed wound to leading edge of front board. Marbled endpapers for which a BIBLE was used! Bookplate of "Edward Dalton, LLD, F.S.A. (?) to front pastedown. Additional engraved title page (neatly mounted) (a1v) and engraved frontis portrait of Julius Caesar, with professional repair to outer edge. Three volumes in one, separately paginated. Many fine copperplate engravings, a number of them two-page, illustrating battle formations and plans, camp diagrams, soldiers readying for attack, etc. With commendatory poems by William Camden, Samuel Daniel, Josuah Sylvester and Ben Jonson on leaf a4. Woodcut initials, headpieces and tailpieces. Pagination: [48], 196, [2], 10, [2] p., [16] leaves of plates (1 double). Second book (Observations Upon Caesars Commentaries of the Civile Warres betwixt Him and Pompey) bears printer's name as "Roger Daniel: 1655" (leaf 2T3r. Third Book (The Manner of our Modern Training, or Tactick Practise, by Clement Edmonds, Remembrancer of the City of London) begins new pagination with quire 3A. Final blank leaf. (Wing C199); ESTC R17666. Overall in lovely condition. Very Good. Leather-bound. (#84854) $1,900

Edmondes was renowned as a brilliant student of the art of war, and of the necessity for its careful study by those who would practice it. Ben Johnson in his Epigramme "To My Friend, Master Clement Edmonds" (a 5) writes:

"Who Edmonds, reads thy book, and doth not see What th' antique Souldiers were, the modern be?

Wherein thou shew' it, how much the later are Beholden to this Master of the Warre:..."

"...The conduct of war was prominent among Edmondes's interests. He urged the necessity for soldiers to read about and discuss the practice of their profession, to supplement their practical experience. ...Edmondes explained that ...[his "Commentaries" was directed at English soldiers and he supplemented his comments on Roman military practice with observations on contemporary campaigns,...He also discussed the question of how to deal with an invasion of England, whether to oppose an invading army at the coast or to withdraw and offer battle later..." (ODNB) 


https://www.dropbox.com/sh/8tgd0zzp5b9b8q1/AAC78g9GVjBqLkdsgLiTowSma?dl=0


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