1699 THEVENOT, Melchisedech. - The Art of Swimming. Illustrated by proper figures. With advice for bathing. Done out of French. To which is prefixed a Prefatory Discourse concerning Artificial...

1699 THEVENOT, Melchisedech. - The Art of Swimming. Illustrated by proper figures. With advice for bathing. Done out of French. To which is prefixed a Prefatory Discourse concerning Artificial Swimming, or keeping one self above water by several small Portable Engines in cases of danger. London: 1699. 12mo. pp. [xxi], 60. Illustrated with thirty nine full page illustrations. A very good copy in later full sprinkled calf. Wing T 888. Published three years after the original French copy and not reprinted until well into the following century when a copy was to be found in the library of Benjamin Franklin, this is the earliest illustrated book on swimming in the English language. In his preface the anonymous translater who indicates that ''engines'' relates to corks and bladders etc argues for a related book on The Art of Diving. Monsieur Thevenot himself makes reference in his preface to swimmers recorded in Classical times, these including Mark Anthony who was on the point of yielding to Ptolomy at Alexandria when ''he cast himself armed into the Sea and by swimming recover'd his Fleet''. In the illustrated text proper the most improbable piece of advice comes in a chapter headed ''To cut the nails of the toes in water'', an art that enquiries amongst modern swimmers suggests has sadly been lost. Sweeney 5064.1 Provenance: The estate of Tony Sweeney

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