This sketchbook has never been published before. There is no trace of it in history of warfare in spite of its great interest. It has been written and drawn in Europe with the care ordinarily spared for the publishing of a book, between circa 1625 and 1690. Its author didn't introduce himself, nor did he leave any clue telling us who he was, where did he live and where he came from. What drew our attention to this sketchbook, to the point that we found it worthy to be published and to be introduced as a masterpiece in history of warfare, are its unusual quality as a personal sketchbook and the indisputable historical and technical interest of its contents. Indeed, its author had an uncanny talent for describing, explaining and teaching anything with sketches only.
Thus he delivers us the latest breakthroughs in military affairs in early XVIIth century, ranging from tactics, to sabotage and commando operations, to how to make bombs, grenades and rockets, to how would work a repetition rifle with a matchlock ignition system.
Its beautiful technical drawings and the surprising variety of subjects remind us of the notebooks of Leonardo da Vinci. Many of its drawings are delicately painted with water colors. The publishing of this sketchbook would have been impossible without the important contribution of the U. S. Library of Congress, its owner.