December 10-13, 2024 Firearms & Militaria
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 12/10/2024
[MANUSCRIPT ON FRENCH 18TH CENTURY ARTILLERY] Large quarto, ¼ bound in vellum with marbled boards, inscribed on spine :"Mémoires sur l'artillerie, l'analise du charbon fossile, la fabrication des canons de soldates". A collection of handwritten artillery memorandums and reports assembled by d’Abboville while working as an assistant to Gribeauval prior to the Revolutionary War, including: [1] Report by Mr Moore for the alloy suitable for casting Artillery. 19 pp., illustrated with 7 folding plates captioned in ink. [2] Memorandum on a new gun carriage proposed by Count de Rostaing for the defense of the coasts and ports of Spain. 3 pp. [3] Memorandum on the need for reform and reorganization of the French royal artillery and its ordnance, 1765. 10 pp. [4] Journal of the tests made of gunpowder at Strasbourg. 1765. 6 pp. [5] Saint-Étienne Royal Manufactory of Small Arms. Comparison of the current with proposed arms for production [c. 1768]. 17 pp. [6] Details of the consumption of powder in proving musket barrels. 2 pp. [7]. Analysis of the coal of Saint-Étienne by Mr. Gavinet. 6 pp. [and 8] Royal regulations for the construction of firearms. 1766. 10 pp. PROVENANCE : General François-Marie d'Aboville and by descent in his family until 2024. CONDITION: Very good to excellent; internal contents bright, clean and highly legible, text in strong clerical hand and folding plates and diagrams well inked; covers with some edge wear and very light soiling.