Fencing, Duels

Rare and sought after first edition, according to Clouzot, especially in contemporary binding
Bindings in half shagreen bottle green, back with four nerves adorned with golden and black nets, plates of marbled paper, guards and counterplates of paper in the tank, two slight scratches without gravity on the cuts, bindings of the time.
Very beautiful copy in a particularly desirable condition a fortiori enriched with a signed autograph shipment.
Rare autograph shipment signed by Théophile Gautier to Mr. Achard.

First edition.
Half-cherry red shagreen binding, spine with four raised bands set with double gilt fillets decorated with double blind compartments ornamented with a gilt fleuron at their centers, marbled paper boards, marbled endpapers and pastedowns, contemporary binding.
Autograph inscription signed by Antony Chipault, the dedicatee's name having been trimmed by the binder making it illegible: "... membre du Conseil général du Loiret et membre de la Commission administrative de l'hospice d'Orléans..." (member of the General Council of Loiret and member of the Administrative Commission of the Orleans hospice)
Work illustrated with 37 color plates hors-texte.
Some minor foxing of no consequence, a light scratch to the left margin of the front board.
Rare.

First edition.
Modern Bradel binding in half vellum, smooth spine decorated with a red morocco title label in lengthwise orientation, combed paper boards.

First edition for each volume.
Half bottle-green shagreen binding with corners, spine with five raised bands decorated with gilt fleurons, joints showing traces of rubbing, marbled paper boards, two lacks of paper on first cover, combed paper endpapers and pastedowns, top edge gilt, corners slightly bumped, bookplate pasted at head of one pastedown.
Some light foxing.
Rare.
Mounted on a stub at the head of the work is a rare fascicle entitled "Combats judiciaires en Normandie" by the same author, consisting of an offprint from the Recueil de la société libre d'Agriculture, sciences, arts et belles-lettres de l'Eure published in 1835.

First edition printed in a small number of copies on laid paper.
Two small tears of no consequence at head and foot of spine marginally sunned, handsome interior condition.
Faded printed bibliophile's stamp on title page.

Master’s Certificate (or Brevet) of sieur Léger, a student of M. Radulphe Pierre
January 1834 | 32 x 50 cm | one leaf
A very nice illustrated certificate in coated watercolors, gum and manuscript, of a master fencer, signed by all the masters of the garrison at Ancona (66th Infantry Regiment) on the occasion of Jean François Victor Léger (a student of Pierre Radulphe) receiving the rank of Master of «Counterpoint» (sabre). «We, the masters of counterpoint in the garrison of Ancona, having examined the abilities of sieur Léger Jean François Victor hereby record our having received him as Master, as a token of which we have issued him with the present Bre
vet for his benefit and to witness what is true and therefore invite our brothers in arms to lend him aid and assistance wherever he shall have earned their esteem and friendship.»
A nice fencing scene in the foreground of the document.
Marginal spotting as well as a few repairs using paper strips to verso.
The town of Ancona, where this certificate was issued, was occupied by French troops from 1832 to 1838, which is to say during the Italian crisis pitting France
against Austria in a battle for influence in the peninsula.
Fencing was widespread during in Empire period when each regiment had its Master of Arms. Optional in the army from 1815 on, it was made obligatory once more in 1824 before becoming optional again in 1834, the year this document was produced. A highly regulated discipline, fencing inspired a number of writers (including Stendhal, Dumas, and others) before becoming an Olympic sport in 1896.

First edition in French, translated by Albert Fierlants, one of 50 numbered copies on Hollande paper, the only large paper copies.
Publisher's flexible light brown cloth, upper cover decorated with fencing motifs, small black spots to upper cover, blue paper endpapers and pastedowns, top edge gilt.
With numerous reproductions of engravings as well as 6 plates hors texte.
A good and rare copy with hardly any foxing.

First edition, one of 270 numbered copies on vélin, the only printing with 10 Whatman, 20 Japon and 30 Chine.
Spine slightly cracked to foot, otherwise a good and rare copy.