CAPOFERRO DA CAGLI, Ridolfo. Gran simulacro dell'arte e dell'uso della scherma. Siena, S. Marchetti and C. Turk, 1610. Oblong 4to. Contemp. limp vellum with title in ink on spine. With woodcut printer's device on title-page and in colophon, engr. coat-of-arms of the dedicatee Francesco Maria Feltrio della Roevere, Duke of Urbino, flanked by the personifications of Justitia and Prudentia on the verso of the title-page, engr. portrait of the author in rich allegorical border, 43 full-page numb. engravings by R. Schiaminossi, all letterpress pages within ornamental border, partly with woodcut initials and/or ornaments. (8), (8), 56, (8), 62-68, (2), 70-118 [= 120], (4) pp. Splendid publication. The title translates: 'Great Simulacrum of the Use of the Sword, by Ridolfo Capo Ferro da Cagli, Master of the most excellent German Nation in the famous City of Siena.' (probably a reference to Capoferro's role as fencing master to the large German fraternity at the University of Siena). This title fully represents its contents: 'Of all the Italian works on fencing, none ever had such a share in fixing the principles of the science.' (Thimm). A second edition (with 44 plates) was published in 1652. The extensive treatise is divided in a few introductory chapters followed by numerous illustrated practical examples. Ridolfo Capoferro, active in Siena, developed theories and a specific system that were only improved and refined by Rosaroll Scorza and Grisetti in their work La scienza della Scherma (...), 1803.

Good copy.- (Re-cased with new endpapers; boards somewhat soiled; outer margins of a few leaves skilfully strengthened; some offsetting). Thimm pp.44-45; Vigeant pp. 43-44; Pardoel 510