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In French
The art of ship building and how to
perfect their construction, with remarks on their
fittings and equipment, how to rig such vessels and
manoeuvre them... is one of the rare
and few published maritime works that offers truly
practical documentation on naval life during the
reign of Louis XIV.
The book-purveyor's forward (today this would be an
editorial note) announces the intention of
presenting the most useful portions of the Dutch
authors' work to a French-reading audience.
Known as the "French Allard," this work contains
not only a translation of Allard's treatise but
also the most important parts of the great Dutch
maritime works by Witsen and Van Eyk.
The text is abundantly illustrated and its plates
present drawings of tools and instruments,
jointing, pieces of the timbers, and various pieces
of equipment such as bits, winches, tops, pulleys,
cranes and derricks, and other devices.
Excellent descriptions of small crafts are also
given, in particular of longboats and dinghies.
This reedition of an extremely rare work, from a
period in which there are very few known maritime
publications, should be on the shelf of every true
naval enthusiast.
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