Oblong 4to (201 x 265 mm). Engraved title-page (with the title Nouveau Traité des Armes and dated 1736 as often); engraved portrait of the author by J. de Favanne, 116 engraved plates. Later calf-backed marbled boards (upper joint broken, some light wear). Provenance: Parmentier (contemporary signature on title-page); P.[?] Van Mona (signature, Brussels 1789); Sts. An. Minimax (stamp verso of plate 13); Librairie Fl. Tulkens (bookseller's ticket).

FIRST EDITION of Girard's work, "the most splendid work on fencing, with the exception of Angelo's, that ever appeared since Thibaust's ponderous folio" (Castle). Girard's work, important among fencing works, is also notable for recording recent innovations regarding the theory of the small sword. Pardoel 392; Thimms pp. 116-7.