First edition of the French translation (cf. Quérard VIII, 14. Not in Blackmer or Atabey, who both describe the first English edition of 1679.)
Contemporary full tree calf, spine gilt with decorative compartments and red morocco lettering pieces, joints and spine skillfully restored, triple gilt fillet and dentelle border on boards, marbled endpapers and pastedowns, marbled edges, gilt fillets on board edges; late 18th-century binding.
Restorations to corners of boards; minor loss of gilt on boards, spine, and edges; internally clean and appealing.
The work, written at the request of Charles II, was first published in 1679. "There was a great deal of controversy at this time about the nature of the Eucharist, and the doctrine of the Orthodox Church seemed to be unclear on this point. Both the Anglican and Roman Churches wanted to be able to claim the support of the Greek Church for their respective dogmas. As a result several works on the Greek Church appeared during the latter part of the 17th century (see also Covel and Smith). Rycaut's work on the Greek Church is significant for the knowledge and sympathy it displays. He was almost alone among his contemporaries in understanding the struggles of the Greeks to maintain their religion in the face of the Turkish and Catholic pressures" [Leonora Navari].
Sir Paul Rycaut, or Ricaut, or Ricault [London, 1628–1700], English historian, accompanied the Earl of Winchilsea as secretary during his embassy to Mehmed IV (1661), and used his time in Constantinople to study Turkish customs and religion. In 1663, he drafted the articles of the peace treaty between England and the Porte, and played a major role in securing the privilege that exempted English ships from inspection rights. He is best known for his major description of the Ottoman Empire, first published in English in 1666–1667.
A good copy of this uncommon work.