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.
