MONGE (Gaspard). Description de l'art de fabriquer les canons. Paris, De l'Imprimerie du Comité de Salut public, year 2 [1794]. In-4, first edition illustrated with 4 tables showing the dimensions of iron cannons for sea artillery and bronze cannons for land artillery, and 60 copper-engraved fold-out plates showing the machines needed to manufacture cannons, as well as cannon models. Work written in execution of the decree of the Comité de Salut Public, dated 18 pluviose de l'an II, in which Monge recommends a new method for casting cannons in sand. It is the result of research into the composition of steels and cast irons that Monge had undertaken with Berthollet and Vandermonde. Bound in full contemporary fawn basane, boards with double framed cold fillets, 5-rib spine enhanced with gilt fillets, red morocco title page, all edges red. Handwritten bookplate "Misson fils" on flyleaf. (copy incomplete of plates 6, 7, 21, 42, 43 and 53, binding rubbed with some spotting and small wormholes on second cover). Expert : Mr. Nicolas Asvisio