Memoirs of the Baron de Tott, on the Turks and the Tartars.

IMPORTANT WORK ON TURKEY & UKRAINE
first edition in English 2 vols. tall 8vo. xxiv, 532; [2 (title)], 382, [14 (index)]pp., contemporary speckled calf, smooth spines panelled with gilt fillets and with red morocco lettering pieces gilt and with boldly gilt decorated dark green morocco numbering pieces with the numbers on oval red morocco onlays gilt at their centres, small patches of the leather on the front board of vol.I along the joint eaten away by silverfish (easily repaired), else a very handsome and fresh copy.
ESTC t118411 locating few copies for a work of this nature. Volume I undated and Volume II dated. Some copies are known which omit 'London' from the imprint of vol.1.
An important work. De Tott, a Hungarian, went to Constantinople in 1755 and remained there until 1763. His knowledge of the Turkish language and culture, as well as his ideas for extending commercial and diplomatic relations, led to his being appointed French consul in the Crimea. On his return to Constantinople in 1769 he reorganised the army and navy and organised the fortification of the banks of the Black Sea. He was later again promoted to the post of inspector general of the Levant and he travelled with Sonnini between 1776 and 1778. Despite criticism from some quarters this book was highly successful and set a new standard of objectivity in its description of the Ottoman Empire.
cf: Atabey 1227 and Blackmer 1667