French Military Lexicography Guillet de Saint Georges 1678 First Edition Volume II Explaining War Terminology and Practice

George GUILLET DE SAINT-GEORGES

First Edition

Guillet de Saint-Georges, George. Les Arts de L’Homme d’Epée, 1678, provides a structured dictionary of military terminology and practice intended for gentlemen trained in arms during the late seventeenth century, when European warfare was increasingly systematized through professional instruction and codified knowledge. Organized alphabetically, the work defines terms related to field operations, garrison duty, artillery, and the mechanics of attack and defense, supported by historical examples drawn from contemporary military actions. Issued in France during the reign of Louis XIV, the volume reflects the formalization of military education within a centralized state that emphasized discipline, hierarchy, and technical proficiency. The text supports research into early modern military science, linguistic standardization of warfare, and the training of officers in seventeenth-century Europe.

Guillet de Saint-Georges, George. Les Arts de L’Homme D’Epée, ou Le Dictionnaire du Gentil-Homme… Paris: Chez Gervais Clouzier, 1678. First edition of Volume II (complete in itself) of a three-volume set. Duodecimo, 267 pages. Text in French. The volume constitutes the military section of a broader instructional series that also included horsemanship and navigation. Illustrated with a large folding copper-engraved plate. Bound in contemporary sheep. Ownership signature in ink on title page. The entries present definitions and explanatory commentary on military vocabulary, including roles of officers, operational movements, and technical aspects of warfare.

Produced during a period of sustained military campaigns and administrative reform in France, the work reflects the increasing importance of standardized knowledge for officers operating within expanding national armies. The dictionary format demonstrates how military expertise was disseminated beyond direct battlefield experience into textual and pedagogical forms accessible to educated elites. As part of a larger instructional project addressing multiple domains of gentlemanly training, the volume situates military knowledge alongside other essential arts of status and service. Pages toned with occasional light marginal spotting; corners bumped; chipping to leather boards including loss at upper right of front cover; binding stable; overall in very good condition.

Item #17226

Price: $650.00