Cantemir. The history of the growth and decay of the Othman Empire. 1734, folio, contemporary calf

CANTEMIR, DEMETRIUS

The history of the growth and decay of the Othman Empire… translated in English… by N. Tindal. London: James, John, and Paul Knapton, 1734

2 parts in one volume, folio (346 x 210mm.), mezzotint portrait frontispiece, list of subscribers, folding engraved plan, 22 engraved portraits of emperors, contemporary calf, rebacked

Cantemir deserted his Turkish overlordship and went to Russia to join Peter the Great, where he wrote his history in Latin. The manuscript was brought to London by his son Antiochus as a present to George I, from which Tindal made his translation, published in twenty monthly instalments (see R.M. Wiles, Serial Publication in England before 1750 (Cambridge, 1957), p.297 and passim).

LITERATURE:

Atabey 190; Blackmer 294

PROVENANCE:

Stotherd Abdy, engraved armorial bookplate