Lot 271: DUANE, WILLIAM

The American Military Library; or, Compendium of the Modern Tactics. Embracing the Discipline, Manoeuvres, and Duties of Every Species of Troops.... Adapted to the Use of the Militia of the United States. Philadelphia: Printed by and for the Author, 1807--1809

2 volumes, 8vo (8 1/2 x 5 1/4 in.; 217 x 135 mm). Large folding engraved frontispiece plan of field maneuvers, 42 engraved plates printed on 21 folding sheets, 11 other engraved plates (including 2 of bugle horn signals), numerous illustrations and diagrams in text; several plates trimmed close or torn, one with loss, text browned and foxed, some worming to last 30 leaves, chiefly marginal but costing some text. Contemporary tree sheep, smooth spines gilt-ruled with red morocco labels, plain endpapers and edges; extremities rubbed, front joint of vol. 2 splitting, front free endpaper of vol. 2 lost.

PROVENANCE

Charles Hicock (signature, Southbury, 15 September 1819)

LITERATURE

American Imprints 12468, 17406

NOTE

First American edition; scarce. The first-published section of this work is bound at the end of the first volume and bears a separate title-page: The System of Discipline and Manoeuvres of Infantry, forming the Basis of Modern Tactics; established for the National Guards and Armies of France. Translated for the American Military Library, from the Edition published by authority in 1805. A joint exhibition on military training by the Kansas State University and the U.S. Cavalry Memorial Research Library, Fort Riley, pointed out that Duane's "anthology of treatises on tactics documents the importance of military writing in a society that often rejects the idea of a mass standing army. At a time when American political culture required reliance on militia forces rather than a large professional army, Americans concerned with military readiness turned to the printed book as one means of trying to ensure the preparedness of part-time military forces."

The plates are numbered erratically and non-sequentially; it cannot be determined if the present copy contains a full complement of engravings, or even if there was a standard number issued with the edition.