From its origins as a sharpened stick in the days of cave dwellers, the sword developed over the centuries into one of mankind's deadliest and most widely used weapons. This fascinating volume traces the development of the sword in 44 carefully researched, ready-to-color drawings. Authentically costumed depictions of sword-wielders both famous and obscure include Queen Boadicea, King Charlemagne, a Puritan of the 17th century, and many others. Detailed, informative captions accompany finely wrought illustrations of a an eleborate Babylonian iron sword (600 B.C.), a steel sword of the Chinese Han dynasty (200 B.C.), a pirate "buccaneer" cutlass (A.D. 1700), and many more. Coloring book fans, students of weaponry, and armchair swashbucklers will all relish this pictorial history of the sword and its many variations. Paperback, 44 black-and-white illustrations, introduction, captions, 48 pages.
ISBN:486401391. DOVER