Les veritable parfait Mareschal – Solleysel – 1677 | First German Edition, Parallel French | Perfect Horse

Les veritable parfait Mareschal by Jacques de Solleysel, printed in Geneva in 1677 by Johann Hermann Widerhold, is the first German edition of the best 17^th-century book on care for horses. Published under the French title “Le Parfait Mareschal”, this book covers the symptoms of common horse diseases, prevention tactics, known medicines, and how to breed horses. Other important topics include how to travel with horses, appropriate diet, improve teeth health, and necessary riding equipment. Bound in the original vellum folio, this edition includes 7 full-page engravings including the famed double-page view of a horse rearing.

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Les veritable parfait Mareschal, qui enseigne a Connoistre la Beauté, la Bonté, et les Deffauts des Chevaux, … Der Warhafftig-Vollkommene Stall-Meister : Welcher lehret Die Schönheit/ Güte und Mängel der Pferd zuerkennen
• Author(s): Jacques de Solleysel
• Illustrator(s): uncredited
• Contributor(s):
• Publisher: Genff, Gedruckt bey Joh Herm. Widerhold
• Edition: First German edition, 1677.
• Format: Folio, single volume
• Binding: Original full vellum
• Size:  13.5 in x 8.5 in (34.3 cm x 21.6 cm)
• Collation: [16], 824, 40 pp
• Illustrations: 7 full-page engravings; 17 in-text illustrations
• Contents Include:
  • Parallel French-German veterinary text
  • Travel endurance methods
  • Horse breeding, teeth care, equipment use
  • Disease identification and common medications

Condition:

Good. Original vellum with some staining on the covers. Corners with some rubbing. Woodcuts are considerably sharp and clean

Why Collect This?

• Parallel French-German format uncommon in 17th-century folios, let alone equestrian titles.
• First German edition with all 7 original engravings
• Appeals to veterinary, equestrian, and early horse-history collectors

Item Number: #28950