HEMA Bookshelf

HEMA Bookshelf
Status	Active
Founded	2019
Founder	Michael Chidester
Country of origin	United States
Headquarters location	Boston, MA
Publication types	Facsimiles and books
Official website	www.hemabookshelf.com

HEMA Bookshelf is a publisher of HEMA books. Its catalog includes original facsimiles which are funded by pre-orders, as well as translations and scholarly analysis of subjects related to historical martial arts (available on major bookselling sites).

HEMA Bookshelf was founded in 2019 by Michael Chidester and soon produced its first facsimile, the 1459 manuscript of Hans Talhoffer. It has since produced four more facsimiles (see below). In 2020, it began publishing conventional books as well, starting with new editions of Chidester's prior self-published books and soon adding collections of research by other scholars as well.

In 2021, it launched a campaign to produce a professional translation of the 1570 treatise of Joachim Meyer, which it would publish and also donate to Wiktenauer for free re-use. Dr. Rebecca Garber was hired to do the translation, which was completed in 2022.

Publications

Facsimiles

• Talhoffer Fechtbuch (MS Thott.290.2º) (2019)
• Fior di Battaglia (MS Ludwig XV 13) (2020)
• Kunst des Messerfechtens (Cgm 582) (2021)
• Gründtliche Beschreibung der Kunst des Fechtens (Joachim Meyer) (2021)
• Bauman Fechtbuch (Cod.I.6.4º.2) (2022)
• Scienza d’Arme (Salvator Fabris) (Forthcoming)

Books

• Alte Armature und Ringkunst: The Royal Danish Library Ms. Thott 290 2º (2020). Trans. Rebecca L. R. Garber. Ed. Michael Chidester and Dieter Bachmann. Somerville, MA: HEMA Bookshelf. ISBN 978-1-953683-04-5.
• Kunst und Zettel im Messer: Bavarian State Library Cgm 582 (2021). Ed. Michael Chidester. Somerville, MA: HEMA Bookshelf. ISBN 978-1-953683-16-8.
• Bauman's Fight Book: Augsburg University Library Ⅰ.6.4º 2 (2022). Trans. Christian Henry Tobler and Jessica Finley. Ed. Michael Chidester. Medford, MA: HEMA Bookshelf. ISBN 978-1-953683-27-4.
• Chidester, Michael (2020). The Illustrated Meyer: A Visual Reference for the 1570 Treatise of Joachim Meyer. Somerville, MA: HEMA Bookshelf. ISBN 978-1-953683-00-7.
• Chidester, Michael; Dierk Hagedorn (2021). 'The Foundation and Core of All the Arts of Fighting': The Long Sword Gloss of GNM Manuscript 3227a. Somerville, MA: HEMA Bookshelf. ISBN 978-1-953683-05-2.
• Chidester, Michael (2021). The Flower of Battle: MS M 383. Somerville, MA: HEMA Bookshelf. ISBN 978-1-953683-07-6.
• Chidester, Michael (2021). The Long Sword Gloss of GNM Manuscript 3227a. Somerville, MA: HEMA Bookshelf. ISBN 978-1-953683-13-7.
• Fabris, Salvator (2022). Fencing or the Science of Arms: Illustrated Edition. Trans. A. F. Johnson. Ed. Michael Chidester. Somerville, MA: HEMA Bookshelf. ISBN 978-1-953683-23-6.
• Fabris, Salvator (2022). Fencing or the Science of Arms: Unillustrated Edition. Trans. A. F. Johnson. Ed. Michael Chidester. Somerville, MA: HEMA Bookshelf. ISBN 978-1-953683-21-2.
• Meyer, Joachim (2023). Foundational Description of the Art of Fencing: The 1570 Treatise of Joachim Meyer (Reading Edition). Trans. Rebecca L. R. Garber. Ed. Michael Chidester. Medford, MA: HEMA Bookshelf. ISBN 978-1-953683-34-2.
• Meyer, Joachim (2023). Foundational Description of the Art of Fencing: The 1570 Treatise of Joachim Meyer (Reference Edition) (2 vols.). Trans. Rebecca L. R. Garber. Ed. Michael Chidester. Medford, MA: HEMA Bookshelf. ISBN 978-1-953683-30-4 (Vol 1); 978-1-953683-32-8 (Vol 2).

Articles

• Becker, Paul (2020). "Hans Talhoffer: Insights into the Life of a Fencing Master in the 15th Century." Alte Armature und Ringkunst: The Royal Danish Library Ms. Thott 290 2º: 47-68. Ed. Michael Chidester. Somerville, MA: HEMA Bookshelf. ISBN 978-1-953683-04-5.
• Burger, Daniel (2021). "Hans Lecküchner of Nuremberg and His Fencing Treatise in the Long Knife." Kunst und Zettel im Messer: Bavarian State Library Cgm 582: 121-140. Ed. Michael Chidester. Somerville, MA: HEMA Bookshelf. ISBN 978-1-953683-16-8.
• Chidester, Michael (2020). "The Bellifortis of Konrad Kyeser of Eichstätt." Alte Armature und Ringkunst: The Royal Danish Library Ms. Thott 290 2º: 113-150. Somerville, MA: HEMA Bookshelf. ISBN 978-1-953683-04-5.
• Chidester, Michael (2020). "Codicological Description." Alte Armature und Ringkunst: The Royal Danish Library Ms. Thott 290 2º: 3-8. Somerville, MA: HEMA Bookshelf. ISBN 978-1-953683-04-5.
• Chidester, Michael (2021). "Codicological Description." Kunst und Zettel im Messer: Bavarian State Library Cgm 582: 1-10. Somerville, MA: HEMA Bookshelf. ISBN 978-1-953683-16-8.
• Chidester, Michael (2022). "Codicological Description." Bauman's Fight Book: Augsburg University Library Ⅰ.6.4º 2: 1-12. Medford, MA: HEMA Bookshelf. ISBN 978-1-953683-27-4.
• Dupuis, Olivier (2021). "Fighting with Long Knife for Leisure or Self-Defense: Discussions Around the Production Contexts of Lecküchner's Fencing Manuscript." Kunst und Zettel im Messer: Bavarian State Library Cgm 582: 191-202. Ed. Michael Chidester. Somerville, MA: HEMA Bookshelf. ISBN 978-1-953683-16-8.
• Finley, Jessica (2021). "'What's in a Name?' A Comparative Analysis of the Nomenclature of Johannes Lecküchner and Johannes Liechtenauer." Kunst und Zettel im Messer: Bavarian State Library Cgm 582: 157-174. Ed. Michael Chidester. Somerville, MA: HEMA Bookshelf. ISBN 978-1-953683-16-8.
• Finley, Jessica; Christian Henry Tobler (2022). "Warp and Weft: The Bauman Fight Book's Place in the Tapestry of German Fechtkunst." Bauman's Fight Book: Augsburg University Library Ⅰ.6.4º 2: 85-102. Ed. Michael Chidester. Medford, MA: HEMA Bookshelf. ISBN 978-1-953683-27-4.
• Flatscher, Elias (2022). "das Ringen will haben dreyerlay, sterc, masß, vnd phentikait: Comparing the Ringen of Bauman's Fight Book to Modern Grappling Styles." Bauman's Fight Book: Augsburg University Library Ⅰ.6.4º 2: 157-184. Ed. Michael Chidester. Medford, MA: HEMA Bookshelf. ISBN 978-1-953683-27-4.
• Franti, Adam (2021). "Art and Symbolism in the Genre of Fechtbücher." Kunst und Zettel im Messer: Bavarian State Library Cgm 582: 229-240. Ed. Michael Chidester. Somerville, MA: HEMA Bookshelf. ISBN 978-1-953683-16-8.
• Fritz, Falko (2021). "The Messer and Its Use in Lecküchner's Teachings." Kunst und Zettel im Messer: Bavarian State Library Cgm 582: 141-156. Ed. Michael Chidester. Somerville, MA: HEMA Bookshelf. ISBN 978-1-953683-16-8.
• Hagedorn, Dierk (2020). "Talhoffer Galore." Alte Armature und Ringkunst: The Royal Danish Library Ms. Thott 290 2º: 69-88. Ed. Michael Chidester. Somerville, MA: HEMA Bookshelf. ISBN 978-1-953683-04-5.
• Hagedorn, Dierk (2021). "Many Magnificent Messer Manuscripts (Plus Plentiful Picturesque Prints)." Kunst und Zettel im Messer: Bavarian State Library Cgm 582: 175-190. Ed. Michael Chidester. Somerville, MA: HEMA Bookshelf. ISBN 978-1-953683-16-8.
• Hagedorn, Dierk (2022). "Joining the Dots: Additional Comments on the Connection Between Bauman's Fight Book, the Gladiatoria Group, and Fiore de'i Liberi." Bauman's Fight Book: Augsburg University Library Ⅰ.6.4º 2: 195-210. Ed. Michael Chidester. Medford, MA: HEMA Bookshelf. ISBN 978-1-953683-27-4.
• Lee, Lucien (2022). "Messerfechten from the Augsburg Tradition." Bauman's Fight Book: Augsburg University Library Ⅰ.6.4º 2: 129-156. Ed. Michael Chidester. Medford, MA: HEMA Bookshelf. ISBN 978-1-953683-27-4.
• Lin, Charles; Marlene Hurst (2022). "Nonlethal Tecniques in the Bauman Fight Book: Context and Application." Bauman's Fight Book: Augsburg University Library Ⅰ.6.4º 2: 185-194. Ed. Michael Chidester. Medford, MA: HEMA Bookshelf. ISBN 978-1-953683-27-4.
• Tobler, Christian Henry (2020). "Addenda and Esoterica in the Thott Talhoffer Codex." Alte Armature und Ringkunst: The Royal Danish Library Ms. Thott 290 2º: 179-186. Ed. Michael Chidester. Somerville, MA: HEMA Bookshelf. ISBN 978-1-953683-04-5.
• Van Dijk, Casper J.; Oskar ter Mors (2021). "'The Art that Hans Lecküchner Made and Devised Himself': The Martial Arts Tradition of a Fifteenth Century Bavarian Priest." Kunst und Zettel im Messer: Bavarian State Library Cgm 582: 203-228. Ed. Michael Chidester. Somerville, MA: HEMA Bookshelf. ISBN 978-1-953683-16-8.
• Van Noort, Reinier; Oskar ter Mors (2022). "Transcription and English Translation of Vechtboek, Ms. BPL 3281." Bauman's Fight Book: Augsburg University Library Ⅰ.6.4º 2: 211-230. Ed. Michael Chidester. Medford, MA: HEMA Bookshelf. ISBN 978-1-953683-27-4.
• Walczak, Bartłomiej (2022). "Bauman Dagger Techniques and the Augsburg Group." Bauman's Fight Book: Augsburg University Library Ⅰ.6.4º 2: 103-128. Ed. Michael Chidester. Medford, MA: HEMA Bookshelf. ISBN 978-1-953683-27-4.