Estat present du royaume de Perse

Rare illustrated first edition, with 5 copper-engraved plates hors-texte, including 2 folding plates (cf. Barbier II, 302. Schwab, 517. Hage Chahine, 4320. Wilson, 200. Absent from Blackmer and Atabey.)

Our copy lacks the two dedication leaves to Rouillié, often missing, with repairs to the joints and one corner, and a manuscript ex-libris on the title-page.

Contemporary full mottled fawn calf, spine with five raised bands gilt and decorated with gilt compartments and floral tools, tan calf title-label, gilt fillets to the edges partly faded, speckled edges.

Sanson, a zealous apostolic missionary, tireless traveller and accomplished diplomat, arrived in Persia in 1683, learning Armenian, Turkish and Persian while travelling through the kingdom in order to "consoler les chrétiens qui y habitent".

He took an interest in everything, "mœurs… situation… antiquités", of the regions he crossed, and eventually gained access to the Palace, "qui ne sont accordées qu'aux grands seigneurs de Perse", attending all audiences and taking part in every banquet.</p><p>He spent three years close to Soliman before returning to France, bringing Louis XIV a personal message from the "roi" of Persia.

Provenance: copy from the library of the literary critic Émile Faguet (1847–1916), with his vignette bookplate pasted to the inside board.