Tableaux Général de L'Empire Othman.

With fine view of Mecca. D'Ohsson's vast survey of the Ottoman Empire with engravings by the foremost illustrators of the day, including a superb double-page view of Mecca.

Mouradja d'Ohsson (1740-1807) was born at Constantinople of Armenian descent. He followed a career there with the Swedish legation, eventually becoming charge d'affaires in 1782. He spent many years assembling the materials for this work and in 1784 went to Paris to prepare for its publication. The Tableau général soon became established as a fundamental source of information for the laws, constitution and history of the Ottoman Empire. In addition to the topographical scenes, many of the plates illustrate the costumes of the Ottoman court officials and others.

'One of the most important books on the Ottoman Empire, the text was the result of 22 years of research, the plates are mostly after Hilaire' (Koç).

First edition; 3 vols, folio (54 x 36.5 cm), engraved frontispiece, 237 engraved plates on 95 sheets (14 double-page, 2 folding), after Hilaire, Cochin, Le Barbier, de Lespinasse, Moreau le jeune, Queverdo and Touze, contemporary half russia over marbled boards, large russia lettering lozenge to upper cover, neatly rebacked and recornered, a fine well-margined set.

Koç I, 151.