Second edition. Octavo (ca. 27x17 cm). [9], 225 pp. (numbered in Eastern Arabic system). Text in Ottoman Turkish within a double border, first text page decorated with traditional floral ornaments. Occasional pencil notes in Turkish in text. Period Ottoman green quarter sheep with marbled papered boards, spine with gilt tooled ornaments and gilt lettered title "Tevarih Caterini�." Expertly recased using original spine, paper slightly age toned, but overall a very good copy. Very Rare Ottoman imprint with only five paper copies found in Worldcat. Second Bulaq edition of the popular biography of Catherine the Great written by marquis Jean Henri Cast�ra, French diplomat, traveler and translator, who gathered much of the original information while on diplomatic service in Saint Petersburg. The book was first published just a year after the death of the Empress (Vie de Catherine II, Imp�ratrice de Russie. Paris, 1797, 2 vols.) and proved to be in such high demand that within ten years after publication several editions in French (Warsaw 1798, Paris 1800 and 1809), and translations into German (1797), Danish (1798), Dutch (1798), and English (1798) were published. Castera gave a detailed picture of life and internal and international policy of Catherine the Great, including the description of the First and Second Russo-Turkish Wars of 1768-1774 and 1787-1792, which saw some of the heaviest Turkish defeats in history and resulted in the Russian annexation of former Ottoman territories of Crimea, the northern shore of the Black Sea, and a strengthened Russian position in the Caucasus and the Balkans. This apparently was the reason of the publication of the Turkish edition of the book in the Bulaq press. Major rivals in the region of the Black Sea, the Russian and Ottoman Empires were engaged in eight wars in the course of the 18-19th centuries. The first Bulaq edition was published in 1244 H or 1829 AD, during the Russo-Turkish War of 1828-29, and became the first Turkish translation of a work on Western history to appear in print. The book was translated from French by Iakovos Argyropolous, or Yakovaki Efendi, a Phanariot, the Sultan's envoy in Vienna, later a respectable dragoman of the fleet and the interpreter of Divan-I H�mayun (Imperial Council); this edition is supplemented with notes by the book's editor Sadullah Said Amedi. Karl Su?ssheim Collection (Library of Congress), no. 80; O?zege 10539. Seller Inventory # O23

Contact seller

Report this item

Bibliographic Details

Title: Cast�ra, Jean Henri (1749-1838) & ...

Publication Date: 1830

Binding: Hardcover

Condition: Very Good

Store Description

Globus Books is an independent San Francisco-based bookshop and a member of the American Booksellers? Association and the Antiquarian Booksellers? Association of America and has been in business since 1971. It was opened originally by Vladimir Azar as a shop for the Russian emigre public of the Bay Area. A small press operated there in the 1970s under the same name in the same building. Now, 50+ years in business, the shop still occupies the same premises with continued success. Globus Rare Books and Archives is the department within Globus Books that specializes in rare travel and exploration related items from around the world with an emphasis on the Americas, the Pacific and Russian explorers and travellers. Our goal is to seek out and offer rare and unique antiquarian items, including rare books, photographs, photo-albums, watercolors, drawings, manuscripts, archives, maps and prints. Our team has many decades of experience helping to build many institutional and private collections across the USA and the world and we have seen and handled many important antiquarian items and collections. We issue monthly catalogues with the newest acquisitions available for our subscribers. We participate in many US and International antiquarian book fairs. Follow us on social media to receive the latest news and offers. You can browse our collections in person during the shop?s opening hours by appointment : Tuesday to Sunday, 11 to 5.

Visit Seller's Storefront

Association Member

Members of these associations are committed to maintaining the highest standards. They vouch for the authenticity of all items offered for sale. They provide expert and detailed descriptions, disclose all significant defects and/or restorations, provide clear and accurate pricing, and operate with fairness and honesty during the purchase experience.

Seller's business information

Globus Books LLC
332 Balboa St., San Francisco, CA, 94118, U.S.A.

Terms of Sale:

All items subject to prior sale. Payment accepted via credit card, Paypal, or domestic check drawn on a U.S. bank.

Shipping Terms:

We offer free courier shipping worldwide on any purchases over 500 USD. All orders are properly packed with care and attention and shipped within 2 – 3 business days.

Payment Methods
accepted by seller

Add to Wants

Cast�ra, Jean Henri (1749-1838) &amp; Argyropolous Iakovos [transl.] (1776-1850). İcmal-i eva'il-i ahval-i devlet-i Rusiya [or] Katerina Tarihi [General Overview of the History of the Russian Empire [or] The History of Catherine]. Cairo: Bulaq Typ., 1246 H. [1830].

CAST�RA, Jean Henri (1749-1838) & ARGYROPOLOUS Iakovos [transl.] (1776-1850).

Buy Used

Seller's business information

Cast�ra, Jean Henri (1749-1838) & Argyropolous Iakovos [transl.] (1776-1850). İcmal-i eva'il-i ahval-i devlet-i Rusiya [or] Katerina Tarihi [General Overview of the History of the Russian Empire [or] The History of Catherine]. Cairo: Bulaq Typ., 1246 H. [1830].