FRANCESCO FERD. ALFIERI - BOOK ON FENCING La Scherma. Dove con nove Ragioni e con Figure si mostra la perfezione di quest'Arte. 2 Tle. in 1 Bd. Padua, Sebastiano Sardi, 1640. Quer-Kl.-4°. Mit gest. Titel, gest. Portr. d. Autors, 35 (fehlnum.: 37) ganzs. Fechtdarst. 4 Bll., 78; (79)-168 SS. Pergamentbd. d. Zt. (Bindebänder und Vorsätze erneuert). Beigebunden: La Picca, e la Bandiera, ...2 Tle. in 1 Bd. Ebda, derselbe, 1641. Mit gest. ganzs. Wappen (verso Tit.), 2 gest. Portr. (Autor u. Graf Widman) u. 12; 28 ganzs. Fechtdarst. 2 Bll. Titel, 39 SS.; 4 Bll., 63 SS. I. First edition of this very rare book on fencing. Alfieri was "maestro d'arme dell'Ill.ma Accademia Delia in Padova". Cockle: probably the early edition of what became later known as: L'Arte di benmanegiare la Spada, Padua 1653. With beautiful representations of épée and sword fencing. II. As rare as the first, these two works of Alfieri on spear handling, tactical exercises with pikes and flag throwing. Brunet and Thimm mention an edition of 1628 that probably does not exist. They probably meant 1638, the year it was dedicated to Ludwig Graf Widman and which is no doubt the first edition. There is an edition (by Cockle for ex.) with 6 instead of 4 leaves prelims inclusive title of the year 1638. The present edition is however complete as it is. The "Bandiera" therefore seems to be of the second edition and the "Picca" of the first. In the dedication to Graf Widmann of 6 September 1638, the "Bandiera" is designated as the editorΉs first work. Hat feathers and the clashing of swords as sometimes represented in red colours ­ to suggest blood. Some rests of seal lacquer on the title and missing parts in the title in the second part of the first work. Rare anthology in very good condition.