Paris, l'auteur [AND] Bailly, 1789. 8vo (21.2 x 14.0 cm). xl, 388 pp. Original blind wrappers. Hand written paper label on the spine.

An important work - his last - on the Ottoman Empire and its politics, by the French consul under King Louis XVI, Louis de Chénier (1722-1796). "In his book, Chénier describes the rebellion toppling Ahmed III and Damad Ibrahim in terms of an impoverished population raising against its pleasure-headed and spendthrift leadership" (C. Erimtan, Ottomans Looking West?). Chénier's eldest son, the poet André Chénier (1762-1794) was a forerunner of Romanticism, and guillotined on 25 July 1794 for denouncing the excesses of the Revolution (Wikipedia). This is a very rare first edition. Only one auction record this century. Uncut. Edges a bit frayed. Minor spotting, a few leaves dog-eared, otherwise a very good copy of this very rare work. Navari, 231.