The History of Nadir Shah, Formerly called Thamas Kuli Khan, the present Emperor of Persia. To which is prefix'd a short history of the Moghol emperors. At the end is inserted, a catalogue of about two hundred manuscripts in the Persic and other oriental languages, collected in the East. By James Fraser.

London:: Printed for A. Millar, at Buchanan's Head, over against St. Clement's Church, in the Strand, 1742., 1742. Second edition. 8vo. [2], vi, 234, [6], 40 pp. Frontispiece engraved folding portrait (by J. Hulett), engr. plates, engraved folding map of the Monghol Empire and Part of Tartary. Original full calf, spine stamped spine, raised bands, maroon spine label; joints reinforced with kozo, corners showing. Very good. Modern brown cloth slip-case (fine). Rubber stamp of the Scottish Rite Memorial Library, Portland, Oregon. RARE. SECOND EDITION, corrected, of an important source for study of 18th century Persia and the reign by Nadir Shah (1688-1747). This account is remarkably detailed, but it also records most notably, Nadir's invasion of India during 1737-38. It was the first book in English treating of Nãdir Shãh, 'the scourge of God.' It is important not only as a first-hand contribution to the history of contemporary events, but also for the number of original documents which it alone has preserved." -- DNB. // "A catalogue of manuscripts in the Persic, Arabic, and Sanskerrit languages. Collected in the East by James Fraser." (40 pages, at end) has special t.p. // The first edition was also issued in 1742 [same collation, but differs with the imprint [Printed by W. Strahan for the author]]. This is the second, as stated on the title-page. It is dedicated to Richard Mead, physician to the King. The preface, detailing the author's purpose and method, is typographically slightly reset for this issue, seems to be textually the same as the first issue. The second-title for the Catalogue of Manuscripts, also differs in the imprint, the vignette. The A. Miller ads are new with this issue and the first edition errata is not present. Thus the main difference between the two issues, are the imprint (publisher), and the correction of the first edition errata. // Fraser was both a collector of books and manuscripts, but also stories, the personalization of which he felt adds to the authenticity of the account. He writes that Nadir Shah's "first exploits" were "forwarded" to him from a "Gentleman now in England, who resided several years in Persia, speaks that language, and has been frequently in Company with that Conqueror." The assassination attempt by his son, which occurred in 1741, is not described in this volume. In 1747 another assassination was planned and carried out by his own officers on 20 June of that year. // James Fraser, whose father was Alexander Fraser (d.1733), was a collector of Oriental manuscripts (including about 200 Sanskrit and Zend manuscripts, acquired by the Radcliffe Library, Oxford, and later relocated to the Bodleian Library -- known to be the first "collection" brought to Europe), the evidence of this being published in this very book. He twice lived in Surat, India (1730-40), he later served as a "factor" in the East India Company (1743-9). // See: DNB, II, pp. 244-5; Charles Edward Buckland, Dictionary of Indian Biography, p.155. // Locations: Aberdeen University, British Library, Glasgow University, Oxford University.