PLUVINEL, ANTOINE DE. L'instruction du roy en l'exercice de monter a cheval... le tout enrichi de grandes figures. Paris, Michel Nivelle, 1625.

Folio (370x240 mm., 385x250 mm. binding). (7) ll., 207 pp. (probably lacking one page in the beginning). Engraved double-page title, printed title, 4 engraved portraits (Menou, Louis XIII, de Pluvinel and Roger de Bellegarde), 51 double-page engraved plates and 4 engraved plate at the end (lacking 2 plates of bridles, about 5 double-page plates with partly split centrefold, 1 loose, 1 defect in lower part, also lacking margin 2 with tears, some folds and slight spotting, a few with dampstains, the 4 bridle plates partly stained and creased, 1 portrait cut and mounted on another portrait, the portrait of Louis XIII with tear to lower margin, some spotting, shaved near platemark).
Title with signature and scribble, tears and soiling to outer margin, loose, engraved title loose and creased, some slight dampstaining. All first leaves incl. titles loose. Some spotting and soiling, a few notes in ink to margin, a few marginal tears.
Contemporary red half calf, heavily worn and with damages, boards with marbled paper, upper board partly loose, spine worn, all leather has rubbed off, split joints. Bookplate of Carl Fischerström, stamp Fischerström on inside of upper board.

First edition. Menessier de la Lance (II, 329-330.
The plates depicts Antoine de Pluvinel instructing the king or gentlemen in the art of riding or jousting tournaments on horseback.
Important work on equestrianism, engraved by the Dutch engraver Crispijn de Pass (1564-1637).

Provenance: Per Philip Jacob Waloddi Fischerström 1828-1892, married to Ida Aminoff. Crown Equerry, colonel, hippologist, courtier, manager of Strömsholm's stud farm and first manager of Strömsholm Riding School. Fischerström participated in the occupation corps in Schleswig 1849-50 and attended the Spanish Riding School in Vienna 1862-63. As the first director of the riding school, Fischerström had a great influence on the riding skills within the Swedish army.