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Cantemir (D) History of the...Othman Empire

Cantemir (Demetrius) The History of the Growth and Decay of the Othman Empire,

first edition in English, 2 parts in 1, translated by N.Tindal, mezzotint portrait frontispiece of the author, with loss to lower corner (not affecting image), folding engraved plan of Constantinople (minor closed tear), 22 engraved portraits of Sultans by C.Dubosc, list of subscribers, water-staining throughout, mainly marginal, lower corner of title torn away (not affecting text), later panelled calf, joints very slightly rubbed, new endpapers, [Blackmer 281], folio, for James, John, and Paul Knapton, 1734-35.

***"The manuscript, in Latin, was brought to England after Cantemir's death in 1723 by his son Antiochus, who was Russian ambassador to the Court of St. James...Cantemir had been appointed Hospodar of Moldavia in 1710, after a long residence in Constantinople as a hostage, where he learned Turkish, Persian and Arabic. He was convinced that the destruction of the Turkish empire was imminent and joined Peter the Great in his abortive campaigns against Turkey in 1711...His history of Turkey was considered authoritative, especially because of his use of Turkish sources..." Blackmer..