Travels through the Ottoman Empire.
The rare first edition of this work dedicated to the Ottoman Empire,
handsomely illustrated by the de Bry brothers.
Frankfurt, 1597.
BRY, Johann Theodor et Johann Israel. I. Acta Mechmeti i Saracenorum Principis natales, vitam, victorias, imperium et mortem eius ominosam complectencia. Genealogia successorum eiusdem ad modernum usque Mechmetem III.
II. Vaticinia. Severi et Leonis in Oriente…
Frankfurt, Jo. Theodorum & Jo. Israelem de Bry, 1597.
2 parts in 1 volume 4to [18.9 x 14.7 cm]. (1), (8) pp. with the frontispiece, the dedication and the notice to the reader, pp. 1-58, (1) bl.l., pp. 59-96, (6) pp. with the index, (1) bl.l.
Contemporary limp vellum, title handwritten on the spine, ties.
Rare first edition of this important work dedicated to the Ottoman empire.
Cicognara 1863 ; Praz S. 291 ; Göllner 2286 ; Blackmer Coll 464 ; Atabey 331.
The text is divided into 2 distinct parts. The first one recounts the history of Islam since its creation by Mahomet until the sultanate of Mahomet III from 1595 to 1603; the second part relates a prophecy of the fall of the Ottoman Empire. 
The rich and superb illustration by the Bry brothers consists of 9 plates in the first work illustrating the life of the prophet and 16 finely engraved emblems in the second text.
« Dieci tavole oltre il bellissimo frontespizio ornano il primo opusculetto, e 16 emblemi intagliati con grande accuratezza trovansi nel secondo. In tutto tavole 26 accompagnate dal testo relativo ». (Cicognara 1863).
A very fine copy of this rare work dedicated to the Ottoman Empire, preserved in its contemporary vellum.
The last copy to appear at auction was sold by Sotheby’s London on the 28th of May 2002 for £ 9 560 (= € 15 000). It was bound in 19th century morocco by Hardy and was missing 3 leaves.
Price: € 16 500
*****
First edition of the most important work from the 18th century
dedicated to the Ottoman Empire.
Prestigious copy with the first volume contemporary bound with the posthumous arms
of Maria Theresa of Austria, Holy Roman Empress and queen of Hungary and Bohemia.
MOURADJA D’OHSSON, Ignace de. Tableau général de l’empire Othoman, divisé en deux parties, dont l’une comprend la Législation Mahométane ; l’autre, l’Histoire de l’Empire Othoman. Dédié au roi de Suède.
Paris, de l’imprimerie de Monsieur, 1787-1790.
2 parts in 2 volumes large folio (505 x 330 mm) of: I/(4) ll. including the frontispiece, x pp., (1) l., 324 pp., (2) ll., 2 charts on double-page (marked A and AA), 1 folding-pl. (B), 1 pl. of writings (C), and 23 plates out of pagination representing 37 figures including 3 on double-page; II/ (1) l., viii pp., 357, 41 plates including 4 folding plates representing the subjects 41 to 137.
Part 1 bound in contemporary red Russian young goat , triple gilt filet on borders of the covers, arms gilt-stamped in the centre, spine ribbed and decorated, green morocco lettering-pieces, inner gilt border, blue watered silk doublures and endpapers, gilt edges. Part 2 bound in contemporary green quarter-calf, spine ribbed.
First edition of this fundamental work for the understanding of the Ottoman Empire.
Brunet, III, 1932 ; Cohen 763 ; Graesse 618 ; Blackmer 1164 ; Atabey 846.
« The only perfect source of information regarding the laws and constitution of the Turkish Empire ». Burckhardt
The second volume is dedicated to the Muslim religion and its rituals. It comprises details about the two holy cities and the pilgrimages, and shows a superb view of the Mecca.
« A very well executed work. The first two volumes deal with religion and Mahometan legislation. [… »] (Brunet)
« For Turkey, the excellent work of Mouradja d’Ohsson must not be omitted. The plates are beautifully executed in the line manner, and the testimony of Burckhardt to the valuable and interesting information this work contains, should alone secure it a place in every well chosen library. It is a noble work in all respects, and I give it an earnest and hearty recommendation to every collector of spirit and taste” (T. Frognall Dibdin, The Library Companion, p. 436).
Mouradja d’Ohsson, born in Constantinople, was the secretary and first interpreter of the Swedish ambassador in Constantinople. He became a chargé d’affaires in 1782 and was appointed chevalier of the order of Wasa, then plenipotentiary minister and extraordinary envoy.
« He offered to write Selim II’s reign, but soon he conceived the plan of a ‘Tableau général de l’empire ottoman’, from then he devoted himself without reservation to this venture. In 1784, as d’Ohsson had managed to obtain not without difficulty a definite knowledge about uses, habits, customs, internal practices of the seraglio that had always missed to the rest of Europe, about a nation that has always been unable to become familiar with, he went to Paris to implement his rich materials. In 1788 he published the first folio volume of the ‘Tableau général de l’empire ottoman’; he published the second one the following year. The revolution that arose in France suspended his literary enterprise; he went to Constantinople […]. This work was about to be finished when d’Ohsson died in 1807, and this great project was let incomplete. » (Peignot, Dictionnaire biographique et bibliographique, 557)
A third volume, published by courtesy of the author’s son desirous to continue the project of his father, will appear 30 years later, in 1820.
The excellent and abundant illustration comprises 1 frontispiece and 68 plates representing 138 subjects, including 9 on double-page and 2 folding. A large part of the illustrations was engraved after drawings by J. B. Hilaire, the artist who went with Choiseul-Gouffier in 1776. Other plates are engraved after drawings by Moreau le jeune and Cochin.
As plates 13, 19 and 36 of the first volume were printed late, and consequently delivered after the publication of the volume, they are not present in our copy that was bound as soon as the printing of the volume ended.
« As plates 13, 19 and 36 of the first part were executed after the volume, they are missing […]. » (Brunet)
« This work has not been finished. The first volume encloses besides an engraved title and 4 plates marked A, AA, B and C 40 plates numbered 1-40 (pl. 13, 19 and 36 have been executed after the volume and are usually missing), the second one pl. 41-137 ». (Graesse)
« Plates 13, 19 and 36 are missing in many copies » (Cohen).
A prestigious copy of the most important publication from the 18th century dedicated to the Ottoman Empire. The first volume that was published shortly after the death of Maria Theresa of Austria was contemporary bound in red morocco with her posthumous arms.
Maria Theresa of Austria (1717-1780) has been Holy Roman empress, archduchess of Austria, and queen of Hungary and Bohemia. She led the War of the Bavarian Succession (1740-1748) against Prussia, Bavaria, Saxony as well as France and Spain. This war made her lose Silesia. In 1745, she had her husband Francis I elected Holy Roman emperor, because she could not officially have this title. Impressed by her outdoing personality her contemporaries soon named her « the great Maria Theresa ». Then she led the war against Frederick II in the Seven Years’ War (1756-1762), in order to get back Silesia, but she failed. Maria Theresa of Austria is the mother of 16 children, including Marie-Antoinette, who married Louis XVI in 1770.
The second volume which was published at a later date was bound in a simple green quarter-calf binding.
Price: € 19 500
*****
First edition of this important book dedicated to the Ottoman Empire
at the very beginning of the 19th Century.
POUQUEVILLE, F.C.H.L. Voyage en Morée, à Constantinople, en Albanie, et dans plusieurs autres parties de l’empire Othoman, pendant les années 1798, 1799, 1800 et 1801. Comprenant la description de ces pays, leurs productions, les mœurs, les usages, les maladies et le commerce de leurs habitans ; avec des rapprochemens entre l’état actuel de la Grèce, et ce qu’elle fut dans l’antiquité […].
Paris, chez Gabon, 1805.
3 parts in 3 volumes 8vo [200 x 123 mm]: I/ (3) ff., vii pp. for the preface, 542, 1 plate, 1 folding map and 1 folding table; II/ (2) ff., 287 pp., xv pp., 1 plate and 1 folding plate, III/ (2) ff., xxi pp., 344, 1 folding plate.
Bound in contemporary full calf in a design resembling tree roots, flat spines decorated with gilt urns and suns, red and green morocco lettering pieces, marbled edges.
First edition of this pioneering book about Greece.
The French Librarian of Literary guide, p. 417; Bibliothèque de M. le Baron Silvestre de Sacy 4546; Atabey 988; Blackmer 1344; Weber, I, 5.
Pouqueville (1770-1838) was given the permission to take part in Bonaparte’s expedition to Egypt in 1798, as a member of the committee of sciences and arts. On his return to France, he was captured by pirates and delivered to the pasha of Tripoli, a vassal of the sultan that France was fighting. Pouqueville became a prisoner of war. The pasha of Tripoli sent him to Constantinople, where the sultan kept him shut up in the Castle with Seven Towers during 2 years.
Released in 1801, Pouqueville went back to France and published his Voyage en Morée.
His book gives very interesting ethnographic information.
« The first and probably the best of all Pouqueville’s books on Greece… the work contains a great deal of information on popular customs, superstitions, songs etc. » (Blackmer).
“We had not, as yet, a work that gave a just idea of the peninsula, so celebrated in antiquity, as the Peloponesus, and which is now one of the most important possessions of the Turks in Greece. The ‘Voyage’ of M. Pouqueville now supplies this want, and furnishes all the knowledge that could be desired respecting this peninsula”.
The illustration consists of a folding table and 5 engraved plates including 3 folding.
A fine copy preserved in its contemporary uniform bindings in calf with decorated flat spines.
Atabey’s copy, also bound in contemporary calf, was sold for £ 8 300 by Sotheby’s on the 29th of May 2002 (lot 963) (that is to say 13 000 euros).
Price: € 6 500
