[The Art of Swimming, with advice on how to swim usefully...] 12mo (14.5 x 9 cm). Hand-coloured engraved frontispiece by Martinet title [1-4] [2] [5]-363 [1] 12 pp. incl. title of supplement and 22 hand-coloured engraved plates; aiij bound after aiv Avi misbound before Av Aviii before Avii and aiv before aiij ownership inscription to frontispiece. Contemporary mottled calf covers with triple gilt fillet border flat spine gilt in compartments with green morocco lettering piece to second all edges gilt; hinges are starting at the top. A fine copy of this charming work on swimming and diving. Primarily aimed at young soldiers and seamen, it contains 22 unusual curious plates of a naked swimmer and a plan of a public 'swimming school,' and interesting comments on innovating diving tools and suits (and their prices!). This is the fourth edition, improved and enlarged with a supplement with its separate title page. Coloured plates in order: 1. Frontispiece. Plan d'une Ecole Publique de Natation projetee. 2. Breast-stroke swimming. 3. On back, with hands behind head, with legs kicking. 4. A form of Sidestroke is being undertaken. 5. On back and kicking legs 'frog like'. 6. Floating on back, with hands crossed over the genital area. 7. Sidestroke. 8. A form of 'front crawl' or 'over arm' stroke. 9. Lying on back with legs kicking, arms by the side. 10. Treading water, with head, arched back out of the water, hands behind back. 11. Head out of the water, rest of body vertically submerged, legs kicking. 12. Lying on back with knees bent and arms around ankles. 13. Lying on back with one leg straight and the other bent across the body. 14. Lying on back with legs crossed at the knee and arms curved and extended forwards. 15. Lying on back with one leg extended out of the water, the other straight in the water, and arms by the side. 16. Lying on back with arms extended out straight, out of the water. 17. Lying on back with one knee out of the water, being held by both hands. 18. A 'hunched' floating position. 19. Floating, face down with arms outstretched and legs apart. 20. Swimming under the water. 21. Crouching among breaking waves. 22. Floating, face down with knees and arms bent. 23. Body half in and half out of the water 'treading water.'