Oplomachia di Bonaventura Pistofilo. Siena: Hercole Gori, 1621

£3,500 · Offered by Maggs Bros Ltd

The first edition of Bonaventura Pistofilo’s extensively illustrated manual on the history and handling of pikes, halberds and muskets, dedicated to English courtier, diplomat, natural philosopher and polymath Sir Kenelm Digby (1603-1665), with his portrait (attributed to Francesco Bertelli by Brunet). Divided into three parts, the first deals with the origins, history and usage of the pike; the second, shortest section, with the history, etymology and usage of the halberd; and the third, the background and use of the musket and arquebus (including a short history of gunpowder) and a final section on military dress and colours, and flags. In the ‘use’ section of each part, full-page engraved plates with numbered figures illustrate corresponding passages of text - how to carry a pike and prop it against a wall, for example, how to carry a halberd, and so on. The present work is dedicated to Sir Kenelm Digby, described fondly with ‘paternal affection’ by Pistofilo here in his dedicatory address as ‘joining splendour in arms with worth in letters’ - high praise considering that this work was published when Digby was only eighteen years old, in 1621, as the inscription around his portrait explains. Pistofilo, a Ferrarese living in Siena, and the young Digby very likely crossed paths while the latter was in Siena as part of his Grand Tour, begun in 1620. ‘In Siena he was made a member of a learned society, the Accademia dei Filomati, before which he delivered two very ornate, very

• Year: 1621

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