Military Pyrotechny for the Use of the Cadets of the United States Military Academy
West Point, N. Y. Lithographed by J. C. Poortermans, 1832. Hardcover. [4], 55 p., 24 folded leaves of plates; 35 cm. Original calf spine and plain boards. Plates removed from volume by previous owner. Both text in original plain binding and separate plates are housed in a new clamshell box, the plates within a black cloth enclosure with velcro fastenings. The clamshell box is black and grey with a gilt-tooled spine label. Plate 19 misnumbered "PL. 91." Engraved bookseller's bookplate on front free endpaper verso of "N. B. Holmes, Bookseller, Binder & Stationer," New York. Lithographed by Jacobus C. Poortermans from the manuscript. The first edition of the first book lithographed at West Point. A manual describing the production of ordinance produced for use by the cadets. The plates illustrate the steps in making bombs, rockets, grape shot, and other explosive projectiles. There is some disagreement about the identify of the author, although it is generally attributed to Miner Knowlton (1804-1870), the assistant professor of mathematics at the military academy. Other candidates are Dennis Hart Mahan, the more accomplished Professor of Civil and Military Engineering, or J. D. Kinsley Zebina, the armorer at West Point. In Good Condition: loss of some leather and board from original binding; worm damage in text and plates stabilized with modern japanese tissue repairs; several pages also have older repairs, not impacting the text; discoloration along gutter-side of plates. Good. Item #006325
Price: $1,965.00