CANTEMIR D., "Geschichte des Osmanischen Reichs nach seinem Anwachse und Abnehmen", Hamburg, 1745. First German edition (the work has been written in Latin) of one of the most important histories of the Ottoman Empire up to the 19th century. 4to, (27x22cm). Contemporary full leather, rubbed. Spine richly gilded. Internal very clean. A very good copy. Complete including half title, engraved title in red & black, 5 engraved vignettes, folding map of Constantinople (drawn by Cantemir), engraved portrait of the author and 22 fine engraved portraits of the Ottoman Sultans, probably from a Turkish Kiyafet collection purchased by the author ~1700. Dimitrie Cantemir (1673-1723) was a Moldavian prince. He stayed (most of the time as a hostage) in Constantinople from 1687 up to 1710. Within this period, he learned several languages (including Turkish) and collected vast original material regarding the history of all the Levant. In 1710, he became the ruling prince. He immediately signed an alliance with Peter the Great and tried to overthrow the Ottomans. After the fail of this attempt (in 1711), he escaped to Russia where he composed in Latin this lengthy history. The publication had a great success and his work was later translated and published in English and German. Atabey 192, Blackmer 281 (English edition). Rare.