German manuscript of three military treatises, 1554-1562, later half vellum

GERMAN MILITARY MANUSCRIPTS

Sixteenth-century German manuscript of three military treatises, the first prefaced with an ode in praise of the Emperor Maximilian II. 1554-1562

i. "Büchssenmeysterei von Geschoß, Büchsen, pülüer Salpether und Feuerwergk &c eigentlich zuzurichten, Büchssenmeystern und Schürzen zuwissen nötigk", describing the extraction of salt from saltpetre and the production of various types of Gunpowder, prefaced by an ode praising the military prowess of the young Maximilian II ('Eine lehr so Keiser Maxmilian In seiner Jugent durch erfarne treffliche seine Kriegsraecht zugestelt ist'), the ode signed "I.W." and both items dated 1554, 7 & 34 leaves, some worming in the text of the ode

ii. "Gerichts Hendell unnd Caütele in malefich Hendelnn Schüldtrechen unnd gastrechten", written in the same hand, 35 leaves

iii. "Artickel darauff die Hauptleut... unnd gemeine knecht Sr: Kay: Maj: unsterm aller gnedigisten Herrnn Belobenen... sollen S.K.M zu deinen", in another hand, with explanations and 5 full-page pen-and-ink illustrations of burning arrows and fireballs, the Register and final sections written in various hands, dated 1562, 57 leaves, elaborate margins and shading added in red-brown ink

3 works in one volume, folio (290 x 190mm.), the same paper throughout (watermark: hound with a collar), early twentieth-century half vellum, geometrical footers to each page

The 1534 edition of Büchsenmeisterei Von Gschöß, Büchsen, Pulver, Salpeter und Feuerwerck (Frankfurt: Christian Egenolff) [VD16 B 9130], contains a shorter two-page preface praising Maximilian (not found in the first edition of 1529); see lot 214 for the 1582 edition.

PROVENANCE:

Col. J. Hamilton Leigh (1867-1944), explorer and big game hunter, bookplate