[VAUBAN MANUSCRIPT]. Traité de fortification by M. de Vauban - Lot 265

[VAUBAN MANUSCRIPT]. Traité de fortification by M. de Vauban. Divided into four books. The first deals with the enclosure of a stronghold and its profile. The second deals with remarks on modern enclosures. The 3rd on outworks and citadels. The 4th on irregular fortifications. 1 vol. in-4, 1729 ; 2 ff. bl.-title-220 pp.-1 f. (table)-2 ff. bl.-14 folding plates drawn and enhanced in color -2 ff. bl. Brown calf, spine ribbed, gilt title. Headbands foxed, 2 corners rubbed, small leather loss on spine (rodent nibble). Handwritten bookplate on first white endpaper: "Mazin de Luzard" then "donné à Mareschal le 17 septembre 1730". "Mazin de Luzard" also written on the upper colored endpaper. From this bookplate, we can deduce that the work was written by : François Hyacinthe de Mazin, seigneur de Luzard, chevalier de Saint-Louis, ingénieur (believed to have been born in Marseille around 1708, died in Paris in 1777 Inventaire après décès le 10 juin 1777, Archives nationales cote Y//14104). He was director-general of plans for the king's battlefields, following in the footsteps of his father Antoine Mazin (1679-1739). The latter was a well-known Parisian architect (completion of Hôtel Matignon, Hôtel de Charost, Château d'Asfel in Champagne) who was also Director of the King's Plans from 1707 until his death in 1740. François Hyacinthe is also described as an infantry captain in the deed of sale (1750) of the house built by his father on rue d'Anjou in Paris; he is also mentioned as directeur des plans des places du roi, ingénieur chef (Archives nationales MC/ET/XCV/204). The work is written in very legible, neat handwriting, with chapter headings in red ink. The author of this manuscript did not copy a particular treatise by Vauban, but seems to have transcribed a course on fortification based on Vauban's works. One page is dedicated to Louis XIV's architect, under the title "Ancien système de Vauban": "M. de Vauban is the most experienced of all those who have worked on fortifications, since he was involved in the capture of 40 fortified towns under Louis Le Grand, in which he commanded the attacks in chief, and he alone has fortified more towns than all modern engineers put together". The plates are also executed with care and precision, and some have been enhanced with washes and colors.