Çay Risâlesi [The book of tea].

The first book on tea printed in Ottoman Turkish. First edition of the first printed book on tea in Ottoman Turkish. Seyyed Mehmed Izzet (1819-1909) was often referred to as 'Çayci' (the tea man) because of his great fondness for tea. He was a fluent linguist speaking Arabic, Persian and French and Deputy Governor of the Hejaz and Governor of Adana during his lifetime.

This is a comprehensive treatise dealing with the entomology of the term 'Çay' (tea), types of tea and how to prepare them, the various uses of tea including it's use as a herbal remedy, among others. Due to the immediate popularity of this publication, a second edition of the text was printed only one month after this edition (containing 69 pages).

First edition, printed in Ottoman Turkish, complete, engraved title, 81pp; 8vo (240 x 160 mm); some light finger soiling, a few later ownership inscriptions and annotations, faint water-staining to upper edge of preliminaries; original cloth, blind-stamped with gilt central medallion of the title (faded), repaired, spine and extremities worn.