Les militaires au-dela du Gange

First edition, illustrated with 2 fine figures by Eisen engraved by de Longueil (sometimes found as frontispieces) and 4 folding plates at the end of volume I.
Contemporary full marbled brown sheep bindings. Spines with raised bands decorated with gilt tooling, roulettes at head and tail. Red morocco title labels and green morocco volume labels. Head of spine split at lower joint. Volume label lacking on volume II. Rubbing. Half-title lacking in volume I. Good copy, fresh overall.
A curiosity. The author's research into military tactics led him to establish this military history of the wars between Siam and Cochinchina (Vietnam and Thailand). The book contains a history of these two countries as well as a description of their geography. Lo de Radelet also focuses on describing the military formations, strategies and war machines employed by both sides, as well as the history of their heroes. Most strange is the knowledge that the protagonists have of European wars and notably of Antiquity, knowledge that must be attributed to the author. Lo de Radelet's model, which he cites in his preface, is Xenophon's Cyropaedia, from which the author seems to borrow the narrative structure.
Lo de Radelet obtained the rank of colonel in the Swedish army. He then entered French service, but renouncing military glory and after being wounded twice, he retired to devote himself to studies of military tactics and philosophy.