c1699 Neo-Latin Poem on Warfare EXQUISITE ILLUS
The title page to this volume is missing, but the preface material indicates that this book was published about 1699. This is an extremely rare work by the Jesuit Niccolo Partenio Giannettasio (1648-1715), who spent most of his life in Naples, Italy. Giannettasio was well versed in Latin and took particular delight in writing neo-Latin poetry (and prose) in such varied subjects as life on the sea, the history of Naples, fishing, cosmography, and terrestrial warfare. Perhaps his most famous work is the Picscatoria et nautica, his first work, which was published in Naples in 1685 and which brought him immediate fame as a writer and poet.

This later work, Bellica or Bellicorum, is marked by elegance of language and a smooth style. He celebrates the strength of the warrior, the clash of armies, the perceptive strategy of the military commander—an epic poem on the art of war. It is illustrated with 15 exquisite copper-plate engravings, one for each canto, or book, of the poem. There is also a lovely frontispiece portrait of Thomas Aquinas.



Rebound in later (19th century?) full vellum, this book is in very good condition. Vellum shows minimal soiling and wear; gilt rules are still bright on borders of cover and on spine. Hinges are very strong, both inside and out. Page edges are red. Title page missing, as noted. All other pages and plates present and tightly bound. Paper is high-quality cotton rag that shows little age-toning or foxing. Some light dampstaining in upper corner of first pages, not affecting text.

Book measures about 4.5" x 6.8" x 1" and has 352 pages.