Gottfried Kroniger Gobel Ricaut Sagredo: “Die neu-eroffnete Ottomanische Pforte: bestehend erstlichen in einer grund-richtigen und aus eigener Erfahrung gezogenen Beschhreibung desz gantzen Turckischen Staats und Gottesdiensts…. Geschihten Ottomannischen Monarchen…” Augsburg 1694 First and only edition. FOLIO 33,5x22cm, contemporary full vellum slightly soiled, title in red and black slightly tear at edges, [10] 150p.567p.[78]. Complete with ONE HUNDRERD FIFTY SIX (156) copper engravings of the Levant, of various size, in the text and 14 vignettes. Very light staining in few places, otherwise clean and fine. A very good copy. A HIGHLY ILLUSTRATED PUBLICATION. Issued, with Imperial patronage, by Kroniger and Gobel in Augsburg, the Imperial seat, to celebrate the ongoing Christian victories against the Ottomans. This combine work is devoted to the Emperor. An extremely important and influential work which provides the most analytical image of the Levant of late 17th century and the full account of Ottoman affairs up to 1664, including most of the Cretan war (a continuation of the events, after 1664, had been issued years later, in a separate different publication, see Karamitsos auction 634,lot 3022). The initial part of the book is a comprehensive account of the Ottoman Levant (administration, society, trade, military etc) and includes rare details from Ottoman contemporary statistics of Anatolia and the Balkans, obviously taken from official census. Many parts deals with Greece. An important part of the book is devoted to the Cretan war, other part deals with Nafpactos naval battle or several other places or events in Greece (capture of Negreponte, Rhodes, Cyprus etc).A part of the account is relied on Rycaut and Sagredo histories. Most of the copper engravings had been prepared by the best artists of the time (many signed, other unsigned), especially for this Imperial publication and they had never been re-printed, except for around 15 engravings that are coming from Rycauts work (and had been used as vignettes) and very few other. Most of the drawings had been made in the Levant or from some who had been there, as their accuracy suggest, and Includes original fine views of several cities (Constantinople, Dardanelles, Halkida, Rhodes, Iraklio, interior view of Saint Sophia etc) and several other places in the Balkans, many scenes of battles and naval battles, important persons (Kings, Sultans, officers), scenes of everyday life in the Levant etc. Most (but not all) of the material is original and unique. EXTREMELY RARE Not in Atabey or Blackmer