Anthoine de Pluvinel / Stephano Bracciolini - Zwey Bücher ... eines guten Pferdes, dessen Alter, Gesundheit, Wartung - 1652

First illustrated edition.
Extremely rare treatise on horses by two famous riding masters: Anthoine de Pluvinel and Stephano Bracciolini.
Full-page woodcuts illustrating the horse's qualities and flaws, care and different anatomical parts.

Two books bound in a volume, on how to judge and select horses: in which all the signs and characteristics of a good horse are indicated, as well as its age, health, maintenance, malice and secret vices, many experiments and artifices. Tried and tested in Spain, France and Switzerland.

Coeval half leather binding, marbled plates, various illusions of which one on double page, the right half is reproduced on coeval paper. Evenly browned pages, signs of use, bright ink and some underlining. Trimmed margins and corners of the first book. Very firm binding. Book one, pp.: (2); 97 non numerate; Secondo Libro Pp. (2); 100.

Antoine de Pluvinel (Crest, Dauphiné 1552–1620) was the first of the French riding masters and had a great influence on modern dressage. He wrote "L'Instruction du Roy en l'exercice de monter à cheval" ("Instruction of the king in the art of riding"), was master of riding of King Louis XIII, he is credited with inventing the use of the two pillars, as well as the idea of holding one’s shoulder inwards to increase elasticity during gallop.

Impossible to find online.

Full title:
Zwey Bücher Auserlesen und bewerth befundener Roß Artzneyen: In welchen Alle Merckmal und Zeichen eines guten Pferdes, dessen Alter, Gesundheit, Wartung, heimlichen Tücke und Untugenden, nebest vielen Experimentis und Artzneyen angezeiget worden. Meistentheils in Hispanien, Franckreich und Welschland probiret und vorgerecht befunden
Front cover:
Anthoine de Pluvinel, Stephano Bracciolini
In Verlegung Johann Herbord Klossen, buchhändl. 1652