Second edition of a work on military architecture by the German architect and theologian Leonhard Christoph Sturm (1669-1719), "the foremost German architectural theorist of the early 18th century" (Neville). It is written in the form of a dialogue between an engineer and a youth, and divided into "conversations" instead of chapters. They talk about several well-known military engineers and their methods of fortification, including Errard de Bar le Duc, Blondel, Coehoorn, Vauban and many others. The young man poses brief questions and the engineer gives extensive answers, commenting on the advantages and disadvantages of different defence methods. The conversations are clarified in the illustrations, which depict many types of fortifications, often giving details and profiles.
With the bookplate of the Dutch historian and author Willem Hendrik Schukking (1886-1967), who published many works on fortification himself. Also with some inscriptions in ink on flyleaves, and another bookplate on the back of the title-page. Text leaves and plates in fine condition. Binding somewhat rubbed, spine slightly discoloured, otherwise good. Neville, Nicodemus the Elder, p. 203; Jähns, p. 1389; Jordan 3679; VD18 12677213; this edition not in Sloos, Warfare.