NO RESERVE [Marana (Giovanni Paolo)] Letters writ by a Turkish Spy, who lived Five and Forty Years, undiscovered, at Paris: giving an Impartial Account to the Divan at Constantinople, ?first edition in English, 2ff. of advertisements at end, some adhesion tearing to inner margin, [cf.Wing M565BA], by J. Leake, 1687; The Second Volume of Letters..., eleventh edition, for G. Strahan & c., 1741; The Third Volume of Letters..., first edition, engraved frontispiece, [Wing M565CD], by J. Leake, 1691; The Fourth Volume of Letters..., first edition, engraved frontispiece, [Wing M565CH], J.Leake, 1692; The Fifth Volume of Letters..., first edition, frontispiece (repaired with loss), G12 with internal tear to text, lacking I8, [Wing M565CL & M565CK], J. Leake, 1692; The Sixth Volume of Letters..., first edition, lacking engraved frontispiece, final f. with significant loss to text, [Wing M565D], by J. Leake, 1693; The Seventh Volume of Letters..., first edition, engraved frontispiece, B6 & 7 torn with tape repairs, B10, C7, G1&12 with tear running into text, [WIng M565DC], for Henry Rhodes, 1694; The Eighth and Last Volume of Letters..., first edition, engraved frontispiece trimmed at fore-margin, a few ff. with adhesion to inner margins with some tearing, [Wing M565EA], by J. R. for J. Hindmarsh, 1694, occasional light foxing or browning, the odd marginal chip or tear, a few leaves closely shaved, affecting headlines, 19th century half roan, extremities rubbed, [Blackmer 1072; cf. Atabey 407 (French edition)], 12mo.

⁂ Early or first editions of this influential work of fiction purporting to be by a Turkish spy that proved to be immensely popular, influencing writers such as Daniel Defoe and Jonathan Swift.

Volume one is known to be by Marana while the authorship of the remaining volumes is unclear though usually attributed to Marana or William Bradshaw and Robert Midgley. All of the 17th century editions are rare, ESTC lists only three copies of the first volume. We can trace no example of another set with so many 17th century editions at auction, even the Blackmer set have volumes 1-3 in a later edition.