DEMETRIUS CANTEMIR. : Geschichte des Osmanischen Reichs nach seinem Anwachse und Abnehmen. Hamburg 1745 First German edition (the work was originally written in Latin) of the most important history of the Ottoman Empire up to the 19th century. In 4to 27 x 22 cm. Contemporary full leather, rubbed and restored, spine richly gilt. Internally very clean, with only a few isolated spots on some pages. A very good copy. Complete, with half-title, engraved title in red and black, 5 engraved vignettes, folding map of Constantinople (drawn by Cantemir), engraved portrait of the author, and 22 fine engraved portraits of the Ottoman Sultans, probably from a Turkish Kıyafet collection, obviously acquired by the author around 1700. Dimitrie Cantemir (1673–1723) was a Moldavian prince. He spent most of his time as a hostage in Constantinople from 1687 to 1710. During this period he learned several languages (including Turkish) and became a very educated man. He collected a vast amount of genuine material regarding the history of the Levant. In 1710 he became ruling prince and immediately formed an alliance with Peter the Great in an attempt to overthrow the Ottoman yoke. After the failure of the campaign in 1711, he escaped to Russia, where he composed in Latin this lengthy history. It immediately spread widely and was successful even in manuscript form. Later it was translated and published in English and German. References: Atabey 192, Blackmer 281 (English edition). RARE