FABRIS, Salvator. De lo schermo overo scienza d'arme. Copenhagen, H. Waltkirch, 1606. Folio. Very luxuriously bound in late 19th century full dark ruby levant morocco by BRETAULT/ MAILLARD, gilt spine with inlaid red morocco rectangles and gilt lettered title in compartments between raised bands, both covers with inlaid red morocco interlaced bands in gilt fillet borders, gilt double fillet border around edges, panelled full red morocco pastedowns richly decorated with several rolled gilt ornamental borders, marbled endpapers, a.e.g. Engraved title-p. with engr. coat-of-arms on verso, followed by the engr. portrait of Christian IV of Denmark, all with very rich allegorical borders, furthermore with engraved portrait of the author within letterpress ornamental border at the beginning of the second part. Finally, with 190 half-p. engraved ills. of nude fencing men and numerous woodcut initials and head- and tailpieces in the text. (6), 256, (2) pp.
Very rare first edition of one of the most famous fencing books, frequently republished and transl. in various languages. The very attractive title and both portraits are engraved by Nicolaus Andrea of Flensburg, the coat-of-arms and most of the ills. are by Jan van Halbeeck, the remaining ills. by Francesco Valesio. "The extraordinary work which he [Fabris] published towards the end of a life devoted to his profession, embodies practically the whole of the science of fence as it was understood in the latter part of the sixteenth century." (Castle). "Salvator Fabris a été un chef d'école très répandu; son ouvrage, dont on connaît cinq éditions et traductions, est remarquable, tant pas ses gravures que par le développement important qu'il a su donner à ses théories." (Vigeant).