by Joachim Meyer, Hans Christoph Stimmer (illustrator), Rebecca L. R. Garber (translator), and Roger Norling (introduction)

To aid in the study of Meyer’s work, in this edition the 64 elaborate Figures created by the circle of Tobias Stimmer have been broken up into individual pairs of fencers and placed inline in the text, and hundreds of footnotes have been added throughout. In addition, Roger Norling has provided an exhaustive, 110-page introduction to Meyer and the world that he inhabited.

It is available in hardcover, softcover, and epub.

Version: 1st edition (August 2023)
Length: 478 pages

Acknowledgements ⅰ

Editor’s Preface ⅴ

Introduction: Joachim Meyer and His World ⅺ

Ⅰ. The life of Joachim Meyer ⅺ — The city of Basel ⅹⅶ — The Free Imperial City of Straßburg ⅹⅹⅴ — Schwerin, death, and beyond ⅹⅼⅵ
Ⅱ. The social and martial context of Joachim Meyer ⅹⅼⅷ — Fortified cities ⅹⅼⅸ — Instruction in the art of fencing ⅼⅴ — Contemporary weapons of war ⅼⅶ — The Humanist love of Antiquity ⅼⅺ — Fencing guilds and public tournaments ⅼⅹⅵ — Planetenkinder, Fechtschulen, and the Pythian Games ⅼⅹⅹⅲ — The importance of controlling violence ⅼⅹⅹⅹⅲ — Where was the art put to use? ⅼⅹⅹⅹⅵ — Laws, customs, training, and the use of violence ⅼⅹⅹⅹⅶ — What motivated Meyer to teach and write? ⅼⅹⅹⅹⅸ — Meyer’s legacy ⅹⅽⅰ
Ⅲ. A brief linguistic and pedagogical examination ⅹⅽⅲ — Safeguarding knowledge by hiding things in plain sight ⅽⅰ — Freeing the secret and hidden art of fencing ⅽⅲ — Pedagogical and didactic particulars of the printed 1570 treatise ⅽⅳ
Ⅳ. A look at Meyer’s Art of Fencing ⅽⅸ — Characteristics of Meyer’s Art of Fencing ⅽⅺ — Body and weapon mechanics ⅽⅻ — Striking and striking lines ⅽⅹⅳ — Stances and guards ⅽⅹⅳ — The Beginning, the War and the Withdrawal ⅽⅹⅳ — Deceiving, provoking, taking, hitting ⅽⅹⅴ — Tactics and psychology ⅽⅹⅴ

Translator’s Introduction 1

Preface 5

Sword 17

Dusack 119

Rapier 189

Dagger 267

Polearms 285

Bibliography 335

Index 347

About the Author 351

by Joachim Meyer, Hans Christoph Stimmer (illustrator), Michael Chidester (transcriber), Rebecca L. R. Garber (translator), and Christopher VanSlambrouck (introduction)

This is a two-volume set.

In Volume 1, Michael Chidester’s transcription of the original 1570 text has been included alongside the translation, and hundreds of footnotes have been added throughout. In addition, Christopher VanSlambrouck has provided an exhaustive introduction to Meyer and the world that he inhabited.

In Volume 2, the 64 elaborate Figures created by the circle of Tobias Stimmer are printed in two different formats—a set that were lavishly painted in 1574, and a black and white set with the backgrounds removed for clarity—along with compilations of all references to each Figure in the text. The illustrations from the München, Lund, and Rostock manuscripts are also included in appendices for reference.

These volumes are sold as a set, but can also be purchased separately at a slightly higher price. They are available in hardcover and softcover.

(Volume 2 is an updated and expanded version of our 2020 book The Illustrated Meyer.)

Version: 1st edition (December 2023)
Length: 512 pages (volume 1) and 238 pages (volume 2)

Abbreviations ⅰ

Acknowledgements ⅲ

Editor’s Preface ⅶ

Introduction: The Brief Life and Times of Joachim Meÿer ⅹⅲ

Ⅰ. Sixteenth century ⅺ — 1. Fencing societies of the 16th century ⅹⅶ — 2. The schooling of fencing ⅹⅺ — 3. The process is improvement ⅹⅹⅴ
Ⅱ. Baseler Messerschmidt & Freyfechter ⅹⅹⅸ — 1. Noble interactions ⅹⅹⅺ
Ⅲ. Straßburg ⅹⅹⅹⅲ — 1. The Veldenz Manuscript ⅹⅹⅹⅵ — 2. The Solms Manuscript ⅹⅹⅹⅶ — 3. Artistic interlude ⅹⅹⅹⅷ — 4. The Fechtmeisters Fechtbücher ⅹⅼⅲ — 5. The art on display ⅹⅼⅵ
Ⅳ. Until Saint Matthias’ Day ⅹⅼⅸ — 1. The Diet in Speyer ⅼ — 2. Meÿer’s Speyer Fechtbuchlein (1570) ⅼⅱ — 3. Meÿer’s Ross und zu Fuß un zum Kampf Fechtbuch ⅼⅳ — 4. Winter 1570–71 ⅼⅱ — About ⅼⅵ

Translator’s Introduction 1

Transcription notes 4

Preface 5

Sword 23

Dusack 131

Rapier 209

Dagger 307

Polearms 331

Appendix: The Meyer Census 385

Reference tables 388 — Austria 390 — Belgium 392 — Czechia 393 — Denmark 396 — France 397 — Germany 398 — Italy 408 — Netherlands 409 — Norway 410 — Russia 411 — Sweden 412 — Switzerland 413 — United Kingdom 414 — United States 416 — Unknown 419

Bibliography 421

Index 443

About the Author 447

Introduction: The Treatise of Joachim Meyer ⅰ

Background i — Preparing a book ⅱ — Printing a book ⅵ — Finishing a book ⅷ — Using a book ⅹⅲ — About this book ⅹⅳ

Preface 1

Sword 7

Dusack 37

Rapier 67

Dagger 95

Polearms 109

Appendix: The München Manuscript 135

Appendix: The Lund Manuscript 181

Appendix: The Rostock Manuscript 201

Appendix: Additional Pictures 205

Works Cited 215

About the Author 217

by Joachim Meyer, Tobias Stimmer (illustrator), and Rebecca L. R. Garber (translator)

This edition was produced in conjunction with our Meyer facsimile. It lays out the translation to match the original book as closely as possible, alongside digitally-restored versions of the painted prints from Leipzig University's copy of the 1570.

Like the facsimile, it is printed on cotton rag paper to simulate the texture and handling of Medieval paper, using multiple paper weights to reflect the inconsistent thickness seen in original copies of Meyer's book. It is bound in grey-brown pigskin with 7 mm boards and blind-tooling patterned after the copy owned by Leipzig University.

Edition size: 200 copies
Price: $300.00