L'Academie de l'admirable art de la lutte: Montrant d'une maniere tres exacte non seulement la force extraordinaire de l'Homme, mais aussi les mouvemens merveilleux, l'usage singulier, & les souplesses des principales parties ou membres du corps humain. Avec une instruction claire

Leiden: Isaac Severinus, 1712. Full Morocco. Very Good. A large paper edition of this classic on self-defense and mano a mano combat. 4to. 27 by 21.5 cm. Title, [2], 71 copper engraved plates, followed by five folding sheets, printing only on rectos, with explanations of the plates -- the purpose of the folds is to allow for the explanations to jut out and thus be readable while viewing the particular plate(s). The work was first published in 1674 in French. This edition is particularly desirable because of its being large paper. (We could find no copies, in book form, of this edition on OCLC, and only a single copy of an earlier edition in French, at the British Library.) Bound in an elaborately decorated Baroque ornamented, or Grolieresque, full crimson crushed morocco binding by Morley Brothers of Oxford. The binding decoration includes interlocking strap work in olive, green and black morocco, gilt dots, gilt floral vine ornamentation and ornamental scrolls, panelled-like turn-ins, etc. With silk doublures and endpapers. Darkening along the spine. Joints and spine tips expertly repaired. A few minor rub or abrasion spots on the boards. Occasional light fox marks or other minor soiling within. A few plates with expert paper restoration in the margins. Overall, still a beautiful copy of an early and fundamental work on wrestling.