No. 193 of 480 copies on vélin. Frontispiece portrait of Jean-Louis, wood-engraved vignettes. Title printed in red and black. 194, [2] pp. 1 vols. 16mo. Beautiful copy of this essay on the celebrated French maître d'armes Jean-Louis Michel (17851865), renowned as the greatest fencer of the nineteenth century (who never wrote any works of instruction). He was born in Saint-Domingue of African descent and came to France in the mid-1790s. With an autograph letter, signed, from the prolific Vigeant, historian and bibliographer of fencing, dated 9/2/90, one page on paper watermarked Imperial Treasury De la Rue, declining to provide a contribution on Fencing. Thimm p. 323 Contemporary half morocco and marbled boards, spine gilt, preserving original printed wrappers. Some light foxing. Fine copy. Small old bookplate (name neatly effaced), modern book label of A.D. Rivera of Los Angeles Frontispiece portrait of Jean-Louis, wood-engraved vignettes. Title printed in red and black. 194, [2] pp.