[Upper left]
"De Marinis 1909" (in pencil)
[Center]
[modern paste-in] Fiore de' Liberi was the greatest Italian swordsman of the XIVth century. After an active military career, he was summoned to the court of Niccolo III d'Este at Ferrara, to instruct the younger princes in military science. Upon his honorable retirement in 1409, he complied with the request of his prince to compile a book on the art of the duel, in order that his vast experience might be preserved to future generations. The result of his labors was the Flos Duellatorum.
Of the two contemporary copies of the original, one is preserved in the library of Marchese d'Este, the other is the property of Sig. Alberto Pisano-Dossi.
