Theoretical and Practical Pyrotechnics – Greek Army Explosives Manual (1899)

Theoretical and Practical Pyrotechnics – Volume I: Explosive Substances
By Nikolaos P. Varvoglís, Major of the Greek Artillery and professor of Military Technology at the Hellenic Military Academy.

Published in Athens, 1899, this is an officially sanctioned and state-funded Greek Army manual, approved and issued by the Ministry of War. The work constitutes one of the foundational Greek military treatises on the chemistry, manufacture, handling, and storage of explosive substances at the end of the 19th century.

The volume includes 6 large folding technical plates, among them a highly detailed plan of the Sevran-Ivry state powder factory in France, one of the most important European gunpowder and explosives facilities of the period. Additional plates illustrate production layouts, safety zones, and industrial infrastructure related to explosives manufacture.

The copy offered retains its original folding plans, complete as issued.
Binding shows wear consistent with age and use; the volume would benefit from professional conservation, but remains complete and structurally intact.

Fair overall.Original half-leather binding (spine and corners in red leather with gilt tooling).The covers show visible wear, rubbing and surface soiling, consistent with age and military use. The spine shows rubbing, surface wear and minor losses, consistent with age and use.
Structurally stable, with the text block and folding plates intact.
The volume would benefit from professional rebinding..The interior is clean, with no annotations, no missing pages, and no repairs. Paper is well-preserved with mild age toning and occasional small foxing spots (normal for 19th-century Greek military printings).Important: The folding technical plates are present and well-preserved, with light handling folds but no tears.