Art Militaire, c.1780.  A book of 59 plates by the great 18th century engraver, Benard, illustrating personal and siege weapons, survey elevations, cross sections, construction tools and methods used for building defensive fortifications.  21 of the plates (including several double pages) are beautifully hand coloured.   The rag pages are crisp with virtually no foxing, bound in a splendid modern full speckled tan calf with raised spine bands, gilt decoration, embellishments and labels.  The covers have a double gilt line border and inside, a band of foliated decoration with floral filets at each corner.  These filets extend about one inch to touch the corners of a further blind-tooled chain enclosing an unadorned central panel.  Rare.