de Freitas Books-Fencing and Swordsmanship

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"On guard!"

We present a selection of books on fencing and other "swordly" arts. They include instructionals, bibliographies, histories and biographies, from the 19th and 20th centuries. So whether you like the foil, the épée, the sabre or the broadsword, we hope there's something here for you.

Many of these items are illustrated; you can click over to a specific image directly through the links in the descriptions below, or browse them through the Sports and Games Image Gallery.

References are to Carl A. Thimm's A Complete Bibliography of Fencing and Duelling as Practised by All European Nations from the Middle Ages to the Present Day. London: John Lane, The Bodley Head, 1896. First edition.

M-490
[Angelo, Henry]. Instructions for the Sword Exercise. London: W. Clowes and Sons, 1840. Second edition. "Selected from Her Majesty's Rules and Regulations and Approved of By Authority, for the Yeomanry Cavalry." 19 pp. text, with 15 full page plates (including frontispiece). Contemporary dull red cloth, simple gilt lettering on front; professionally rebacked; hint of bubbling, very minor sunning. Contents age-toned; very neatly re-hinged; plates lightly foxed. Near fine.
$350

M-498
Dunn, H.A. Colmore. Fencing. London: George Bell and Sons, 1906. [Later edition]. The All-England Series. "With Illustrations by H.G. Willink, I.C.S.A. (partly from photographs by Messrs. Barraud.)" 8 pp. sporting ads, including endpapers. Publisher's pictorial (fencer in first position) slate blue cloth, printed in black; now soiled overall and rubbed at extremities; light bubbling of cloth; small label at lower front. Hint of cracking to rear hinge; pages lightly toned, with occasional marginal pencil marks or "thumbing". Ex-institutional library copy, with markings ("Withdrawn" bookplate on front pastedown; blind-stamp to t.p. and p. 55/6; date due slip at rear). Very good.
$40

M-499
Dunn, H.A. Colmore. Fencing. London: G. Bell and Sons, 1927. [Reprint] The All-England Series. Well illustrated with 17 instructional in-text and full-page figures by H.G. Willink, I.C.S.A., "(partly from photographs by Messrs. Barraud.)" Original dark teal flexible cloth, lettered and decorated (fencer in first position) in black; light fraying at corners and spine ends; faint marks to covers. Slight browning to lower 1" of fore-edge of first few leaves; contents otherwise bright, tight and clean. A near fine copy.
$45

The Fencing Bibliography

M-503
Thimm, Carl A. A Complete Bibliography of Fencing and Duelling as Practised by All European Nations from the Middle Ages to the Present Day London: John Lane, The Bodley Head, 1896. First edition. Large paper copy. Original decorated (red sword hilt) oatmeal cloth a bit soiled, with gilt-lettered faded red cloth spine; corners and spine ends creased. Hinges partly cracked but strong; plate facing p.153 supplied in facsimile. A very good copy of this essential bibliography, superbly illustrated with many plates.

The bibliography is followed by an extensive subject index, and 100 pages on "Notes on Fencing and Duelling" reprinting various published reports of duels from Shakespeare's time to the late 19th century.

$275

[Vanity Fair prints]. Fencing. Updated as available.

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Wilfrid M. de Freitas - Bookseller
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Last updated: 3/8/25
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