HISTORY OF THE GROWTH AND DECAY OF THE OTHMAN EMPIRE, 1734, WITH 22 PORTRAITS OF SULTANS AND A FOLDING MAP OF CONSTANTINOPLE
CANTEMIR, Demetrius. History of the Growth and Decay of the Othman Empire. Containing the Growth of the Othman Empire, from the Reign of Othman the Founder, to the Reign of Mahomet IV. That is, from the Year 1300, to the Siege of Vienna, in 1683. London: James, John, and Paul Knapton, 1734-35. Folio (9 by 14 inches), contemporary full brown calf gilt rebacked, raised bands, burgundy morocco spine label.
First edition of this authoritative work, with frontispiece portrait of Cantemir, 22 engraved portraits of Turkish sultans, and a folding map of Constantinople.
Cantemir, held hostage in Constantinople for many years as a guarantee of his father's loyalty, was fluent in Turkish, Persian and Arabic; his history was considered authoritative on account of his use of Turkish sources, and was not superceded until the publication of Hammer-Purgstall's history in 1827. "Cantemir became Hspodar or Ottoman governor of Moldavia in 1710 having returned from a residence in Constantinople. Convinced of the imminent collapse of the Turkish Empire, he allied with Tsar Peter I of Russia in his ultimately unsuccessful campaigns against Turkey. Following the defeat of Peter at Prut, Cantemir remained in Russia for the rest of his life. He died in 1723, and the original Latin manuscript of this work was brought to England by his son Antiochus, Russian ambassador to the Court of St. James" (Blackmer 281). Originally published in 20 monthly installments. Atabey 190. Armorial bookplate.
Interior quite clean, small closed tear to folding map, frontispiece portrait embrowned; binding handsome. An excellent copy.