[Βασίλειος Βατάτζης], Περιηγητικόν (Voyages de Basile Vatace en Europe et en Asie c.1732). Paris 1886. First and only edition (in an extremely rare scientific publication of late 19th century: Les Nouveaux Melanges Orientaux). The travel of Vatatzis (113 pages and two folding plates, including his famous map) is edited by Emile Legrand ,a famous Orientalist. The publication volume includes also other rare texts for the Levant in first edition: of Tarikhi Djevdet, an Ottoman writer of 16th century, of Ousama ibn Mounkidh (an Arab), a poem of Maxim Tsernoievitch (Serbian early poem) etc. Large 4to, 26x18cm pp. [14] 598[10] and the folding plates. Complete. Contemporary leather over boards, clean, a fine set. Basilios Vatatzis (1684-c.1745) was born in Constantinople and in 1700 he was sent for trade by his father to Russia. After a long stay there, he decided to travelled around Europe and Asia. After several travels in Russia, the Caucasus, the Levant and Persia, in late 1720s he became the first advisor of the powerful Shah of Persia. He travelled a lot in Central Asia, an area almost unknown then and gives precious information. He had designed the first ever reliable map of this area and he had arranged to be separately published, by Senex, with Greek inscriptions, in England in 1732 (Tolias 29). Only one copy remained (in British Library) and the map has been exactly lithographed for this edition. The chaotic situation in Persia finally led him to England. His travel account remained manuscript. He had written also a story of Nadir Shah. A unique travel account by a skilled in trade and politics Greek of the 18th century. EXTREMELY RARE.