The Principles of Fortification, Reduced into Questions and Answers for the Use of the Royal Military Academy, at Woolwich.

Fourth edition, including three plates conceptualizing the trace italienne in a 19th-century context. The author "was highly thought of and was a technical scholar who had great influence over the many young men he taught for a period of nearly thirty-eight years" (ODNB). All editions are uncommon in commerce: in the last two decades, one copy of the fourth and one copy of the second have appeared at auction. Landmann (1741-1826) lectured for many years at the École Royale Militaire in Paris, before his appointment in 1777 as Professor of Fortification and Artillery at the Royal Military Academy: "A letter from the Board of Ordnance to the lieutenant-governor of the academy introduced him as a gentleman who 'has seen a great deal of service, and acted as ADC to Marshal Broglie in the last war'" (ODNB). First published in 1796, Principles went through seven editions, the last (1853) revised by Landmann's son, George. This edition, like its predecessors, is advertised on the title page as containing "many additions", although this is in the main a marketing ploy. Octavo (205 x 123 mm), pp. [iv], 72, [12] (index and explanation of plates). Contemporary calf, recently rebacked with brown leatherette. With 3 folding engraved diagrammatic plates. Contemporary annotation "B71 Morris" on front pastedown. Boards rubbed, contents generally clean, occasional faint staining to plates: a very good copy.