CANTEMIR Demetrius, “Histoire de l’Empire Othoman ou se Voyent les Causes de son Aggrandissement et de sa Decadence”, 1743. COMPLETE in 4 Volumes. Large 12mo (17x10cm), pp. [12], cxliv, 366 + 502 + 576 + 568. The original work was written in manuscript form and in Latin. The manuscript was brought to England after Cantemir’s death by his son and the First edition was printed in English in 1734. It was already considered a great commercial success when translated in French by Joncquieres and printed in France in 1743 in two formats, four small volumes at Nyon & Barois and two bigger ones at Ganeau, Despilly & Le Clerk. One of the most important histories of the Ottoman Empire up to the 19th century. 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 translated and published in English, French and German. Atabey 191 (2 vol. format), Blackmer 281 (English edition). Contemporary full leather with spines decorated in gilt, red edges. Interior mostly clean and tight. Heavy external rubbing, worn extremities and joints, bumped corners. Waterstains in volume II. Small chipped parts of spines extremities. Handwritten in black ink “Le Brun” on each volume free end-paper. Bibl. Ref. “Dimitrie Cantemir historian of the South East European and oriental civilizations”, Bucharest 1973