MAROZZO, Achille. Opera nova de Achille Marozzo Bolognese, Maestro Generale, de l'arte de l'Armi. Venice, heirs Marchio Sessa, 1568 [colophon 1567]. Large 8vo. Contemp. limp vellum with manuscript paper letterpiece on spine. Rich allegorical woodcut title-p. and 83 mostly full-p. woodcuts of fighting positions and duelling men. (4), 131, (1 blank) lvs.
One of the most important works on fencing and fighting of the 16th century, first published in Modena in 1536 (Gelli demonstrated that the supposed 1517 edition does not exist) and reprinted in 1550, published by Marchio Sessa and with the same ills. as our edition. P. for p. comparison with a copy without address as listed by Vigeant (ca. 1568) and by En Garde (dating the edition ca. 1540), shows that the two editions are almost identical, with the same title-p., collation and woodcuts but a differently set text, a different woodcut on verso of leaf 28, a text in the lower half of leaf 126 verso printed upside down not present in this edition and numerous small differences. Yet another edition also published in Venice, 1568 but illustrated with engravings, is also almost identical.
The woodcuts, depicting the use of the sword, the pike and the dagger, are partly monogrammed 'b', 'bR' and 'd', identified by Nagler as cut by Francenso Barattini Romano. The "very complete and carefully written" (Castle) work is divided in five chapters, each dealing with specific weapons. The final part of the work is devoted to knife-fighting is of special typographical interest as pointed out by Vigeant, with the text printed in various shapes.
Good copy, with intriguing unidentified small heraldic blindstamp on first free endpaper and old owner's entry on backcover.- (Leaf O8 sl. dam. in lower outer corner, affecting 1 woodcut; a few quires with inkstain in upper blank margin; pastedowns sl. wrinkled/dam.; vellum sl. soiled and outer corner of lower cover restored).
Sander 4385; Castle, Schools and masters of fence, p. XXV and (extensively) p. 34-44; cf. En Garde 24 and Vigeant p. 90, listing a very similar edition without address; Thimm p. 181; Gelli p. 137; Vigeant p. 90; Cockle 744 (as being published in 1517); Lipperheide 2947, listing the fourth edition published in Venice in 1568, illustrated with engravings; Pardoel 1658; this edition not in Adams.