12mo. 4 leaves of Preface, [12 catalogue], 332 pp., contemporary full calf, rubbed round edges with small chip at top right corner of upper cover, title in black and red, gilt title on decorated & raised spine, head-tail pieces, all edges red, small stamp on front fly leaf, otherwise copy in very good condition, Pierre Mortier, Amsterdam, first edition, 1730.

Synopsis

Germain-François Poullain de Saint-Foix was a French writer and playwright. In 1764 he was made historian of the Ordre du Saint-Esprit.
This work describes 18th century Paris as seen through, supposedly Turkish eyes (a Turkish woman who fled the Serail to marry an Italian living in Paris). It is an imitation of the Persian Letters by Montesquieu and was reprinted under Lettres de Neddim Coggia in 1732 and later as Lettres Turques, 1744. The author pursued a military career; he was also well known as a dramatist. “Il venait de publier ses lettres turques lorsque la guerre eclata avec l’Autriche” – (He had just published his Turkish letters when war broke out with Austria).
Bibliographic references: Atabey 986; Blackmer 1343.