Cordier Henri, “Un Interprete du general Brune et la fin de l’Ecole des Jeunes Langues, Paris, Imprimerie Nationale, 1911. First edition. Tall 4to, (28x21cm), pp.86, with original wrappers. Cordier was a famous orientalist. This rare edition is devided in 2 parts. The first part (p.3-50) is a detailed account of the French interpreters (dragoman) school at Constantinople, from the 17th century, focusing on Joseph-Marie Jouannin’s life (1783-1844). Jouannin accompanied ambassador Brune in early 1803 in Constantinople, after the peace treaty of 1802 that opened for the first time the Black sea to the French shipping. Brune had charged Jouannin to explore the unknown for that time southern Black sea coast. The second part includes Jouannin’s detailed travel account from Constantinople to Trebisonde in late 1803 (p.50-77). This is the first ever travel account following the Pontic coast, after Tournefort in 1700. Jouannin was speaking all the languages of the area and became latter general secretary of the Societe de Geographie and the chief specialist on Turkey. He provides detailed accounts on Amastris, Sinope and Trebisonde (including maps and plans), analytical descriptions of the Pontic towns, their monuments and people, as well the areas surrounding them. Very early travel account on Pontos. Atabey 283, Not in Blackmer. VERY RARE