viii, 105, [9] p., 47 pl. [i.e. 44 pl., the pairs of numbers 2 / 3, 11/12, and 13/14 being assigned each to one pl.]; 140×235 mm. (Oblong octavo.)
Contents
[T.p., dedic.] - Preface - To The Reader (by H. Angelo) - [Text and plates] - Table Or Index.
Responsibility Note
No plate is signed. They appear to be copies of Angelo's 1763 publication, for which the figures were drawn by 'I. Gwyn' (i.e. John Gwynn RA?) and engraved by John Hall, W.W. Ryland and others.
The work is dedicated by Angelo to the Duke of Gloucester [William Henry] and Prince Henry-Frederic, from whom he had received 'The Honor ... of teaching ... the Art of Fencing'. (In 1766 Prince Henry-Frederic became Duke of Cumberland; so this dedication is probably reprinted from the edition of 1765.)
References
ESTC, T143107
D. Angelo, The School Of Fencing, ed. J. Kirby (2005).
On Angelo see J.D. Aylward, The House of Angelo (1954).
On fencing history see H.W. Pardoel, Fencing: a bibliography (after 1996).
M. Bower, Foil fencing (1993).
E. Castle, Schools and masters of fence (1892; 3rd. ed. 1969).
Summary Note
All plates carry the publication-date of August 1783. Domenico Angelo had first published his L'Ecole des Armes in folio in 1763 (second edition 1765 in English and French; third, 1767). This edition, as Henry Angelo writes in his note 'To The Reader', is a reduced-size edition of his father's work, of which the text and plates had already been used in reduced form by Diderot in the Encyclopédie.
Domenico Angelo himself posed for most of the original illustrations of the 1763 edition; which appear to be reproduced here.
Reproductions
An electronic reproduction was published in 2003 (Farmington Hills, Mich.: Thomson Gale). A microfilm version was published in 1986 (Woodbridge CT: Research Publications). A microfilm version was also produced by the British Library, London.
Provenance
Purchased for RA Library in 1877 (see RA Annual Report, p. 45).
Binding Note
19th-century half calf, light brown cloth-covered boards; rebacked in 20th century retaining earlier spine-piece lettered 'Art Of Fencing - Angelo', 'R.A.' and '1787'.
Fencing - Fencers - Swordplay - Swordsmen - Combat - Martial arts - Sports - Techniques - Great Britain - History - 18th century
Manuals - Instructional materials - Great Britain - 18th century
Pictorial works - Great Britain - 18th century