FER (Nicolas de). Introduction to fortification. Dedicated to Monseigneur le Duc de Bourgogne, by his very humble servant De Fer. Paris, chez l'autheur, 1705, in-4 oblong (27 x 40 cm), general title in a handsome engraved frame, 9 poliorcétique plates with 6 facing caption sheets; a Table des plans contenus en cet ouvrage, 172 engraved maps or views, and 3 maps of the Canal de l'Eure ; 191 leaves in all, cherry half-maroquin with corners, ribbed spine decorated with gilt fillets and fleurons, double gilt fillet on covers, combed edges (19th century binding). Edges and corners rubbed, fine wear to spine. The date is not on the title, but on the fifth plate (Exagone fortifié avec toutes sortes de dehors), as well as on most of the maps. A rare album that actually brings together two sometimes separate parts of a collection on fortification by geographer and engraver Nicolas de Fer (1646-1720). The first part, theoretical and general, groups together the main figures of fortified works, with accompanying captions (9 plates and 6 sheets of engraved captions). The second, more practical part, includes a number of battle plans and, above all, a large number of plans or views of fortifications selected from all over Europe, making this work a true atlas of poliorcetics in the great century. Last but not least, there are three plates bound before the views and maps, corresponding to the Carte particulière du nouveau canal fait pour la conduite de la rivière d'Eure (also dated 1705, but not directly related to the rest of the collection). (Cuts and corners rubbed, fine wear to spine).