JOHANNES LEUNCLAVIUS: Annales Sultanorum Othmanidarum a Turcis sua lingua scipti, Hieronymi Beck marci fil. Studio e diligentia Constantinopoli aduecti MDLI, Ferdinado Caes interprete Turcico Germanicae translati. Frankfurt 1596 Second edition of Leunclavius’ important historical work on the Ottoman Empire, first published in 1588. Folio (31 × 21 cm). Probably near-contemporary wooden covers, perhaps the publisher’s original binding; spine sunned, some light wear. Text clean and bright. Tiny repaired tear to title page; small paper repairs to the upper outer corner of two leaves. Complete: [1], 260, [14] pp., with one folding genealogical plate. Overall in very good plus condition. Johannes Leunclavius first traveled to Constantinople in 1582, remaining three years and learning Turkish. In 1587, in the company of Ludwig von Lichtenstein, he toured extensively through Greece, Anatolia, and Cyprus, an analytical diary of this journey was only published in the 20th century. Leunclavius discovered an Ottoman manuscript of the history of the Turks by Muhammed ibn Hasanjan (Saad-ed-din). This celebrated Ottoman chronicle was enlarged and edited by Leunclavius, then the leading Orientalist and historian of his time. The work provides detailed information on the rise of the Ottomans from their origins to the early 16th century, with many sections of great Greek interest. He records, often in detail, expeditions and conquests of Greek cities and lands large and small alike with descriptions ranging from Ipsala in Thrace to Mytilini, and from Methoni to Kavala. Of particular value is the presentation of events from the Ottoman point of view, offering insights into how the conquerors perceived the peoples they subdued. A rare and important 16th-century historical account of the Levant, principaly based on Ottoman material. References: Atabey 715; Blackmer 1014.