- 314
[Rycaut, Paul]
Estimate
15,000 - 20,000 GBP
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Description
- The capitulations and articles of peace betweene the Maiestie of the King of England, Scotland, France, & Ireland &c. And the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire ... which serve towards ... a well grounded peace, & securitie of the trade, & trafficke ... in the Levant, by his Excellency Heneage Earle of Winchelsea ... Set forth & Published by Paul Ricaut. Constantinople: Abraham Gabai, 1663
- paper
FIRST EDITION, small 4to (182 x 136mm.), eighteenth-century half calf, marbled paper boards, without preliminary and final blank, lacking lower cover, upper cover detached, spine worn
Provenance
Robert, Marquess of Crewe (1858-1945), armorial bookplate; his daughter Mary, Duchess of Roxburghe
Literature
ESTC R8505 (8 copies); Goldsmiths' 1720; Wing C2930; Not in Atabey, Blackmer, Kress, or Weber
Condition
Condition is described in the main body of the cataloguing, where appropriate.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."
Catalogue Note
THE FIRST BOOK IN ENGLISH PRINTED IN TURKEY. VERY RARE. The last copy we have traced at auction is the Heber/Christie-Miller copy sold in these rooms in 1925 (23 March, lot 96, £70).
Heneage Finch, Earl of Winchilsea (1627/8-1689), was appointed ambassador to the Porte at Constantinople in 1660. In January 1661/62 he re-negotiated the capitulations (trading privileges) with the Ottoman Porte, which had first been established in the late sixteenth century by Queen Elizabeth. Paul Rycaut (1628-1700), secretary to Winchilsea, had these capitulations printed by Abraham Gabbai who had established a press in Constantinople in 1660. 'It was the first work ever to appear in English in Turkey, and was dedicated to the Levant Company — although when Rycaut reached London later that year he substituted a hastily printed dedication to the king in the copies earmarked for the government.' (ODNB) Abraham Gabbai (called Kaf Nahat), was from a family of Hebrew printers and in the prefatory note to the reader states that if "you find some fevv letters misplaced, or the VV not so neatly formed, as vvere to bee vvished, attribute the fault neither to the Printer, nor Correctour: for the press at Constantinople being but sildome employed, is not furnished vvith the uarietie of those letters, vvhich are only propper to northern languages.'
Heneage Finch, Earl of Winchilsea (1627/8-1689), was appointed ambassador to the Porte at Constantinople in 1660. In January 1661/62 he re-negotiated the capitulations (trading privileges) with the Ottoman Porte, which had first been established in the late sixteenth century by Queen Elizabeth. Paul Rycaut (1628-1700), secretary to Winchilsea, had these capitulations printed by Abraham Gabbai who had established a press in Constantinople in 1660. 'It was the first work ever to appear in English in Turkey, and was dedicated to the Levant Company — although when Rycaut reached London later that year he substituted a hastily printed dedication to the king in the copies earmarked for the government.' (ODNB) Abraham Gabbai (called Kaf Nahat), was from a family of Hebrew printers and in the prefatory note to the reader states that if "you find some fevv letters misplaced, or the VV not so neatly formed, as vvere to bee vvished, attribute the fault neither to the Printer, nor Correctour: for the press at Constantinople being but sildome employed, is not furnished vvith the uarietie of those letters, vvhich are only propper to northern languages.'