[MARINE]. HOSTE (Paul). The Art of Naval Armies, or Treatise on Naval Evolutions. Lyon, Anisson & Posuel, 1697. - Idem. Théorie de la construction des vaisseaux. Ibid. 1697. 2 works in one volume, marbled calf, spine decorated, spotted edges (Binding of the period). First editions of these two treatises on naval tactics and architecture by the same author, "which should always be found together" (Polak). They were reprinted in 1727. 1° L'Art des armées navales is the most famous work by the Jesuit Paul Hoste (1652-1700), a specialist in mathematics applied to the navy, who wrote it under the supervision of Marshal de Tourville, based on his ideas and those of Marshal d'Estrées. It is illustrated with 134 plates and 6 vignettes by Demasso, Bouchet, Ogier and Cars. 2° La Théorie de la construction des vaisseaux contains 11 plates and 3 vignettes. This work on naval architecture was the source of a controversy between Paul Hoste and Marshal de Tourville, who had disapproved of some of its points; each then had a ship built according to his own plans, and Hoste had to admit his errors. An attractive copy of Count Franz Joseph von Plettenberg (1714-1779), Chamberlain and Marshal of the Holy Roman Empire, with a handwritten bookplate on the title in French. The volume also bears the armorial bookplate (later) of the castle of Nordkirchen, nicknamed "the Versailles of Westphalia", which was built by his father Ferdinand von Plettenberg in the early 18th century. A fine, well-preserved copy, despite marginal dampstaining at the head of the volume and a few slightly foxed leaves and plates. Discreet scuffing at the bottom of the first cover. Polak, n°4512 - Sommervogel, IV, 479, n°3.