THE COMPLEAT HISTORY OF THAMAS KOULI KAN 1742 FIRST ENGLISH EDITION

[ANON (sometimes erroneously attributed to Jean Antoine Du Cerceau)]. The compleat history of Thamas Kouli Kan, (at present called Schah Nadir) sovereign of Persia. In two parts. Part I. Containing a Description of the Persian Empire; an Account of the Religion and Manners of the Persians; a Chronological Abridgment of their History, including the Lives and Reigns of Cyrus and his Descendents, the Arsacidae, the Caliphs, the Tartar Princes, and the Soplas, down to the late Revolutions; a particular Account of the Aghwans, and their Leaders Mir-Weis, Marm nd, and Eschref, to their total Reduction by Kouli Kan; the Origin and Rise of this Commander, his Wars with the Rebels and the Turks, and his artful Assumption of the Crown. Part II. Containing a Description of the Empire of Indostan, and a Character of the Indians; some Account of all the Great Moguls from Tamerlane down to Mahmet-Cha now reigning; Grounds of Kouli Kan s Quarrel with this Latter; his Invasion of the Kingdom of Cabul, and the whole Progress of his Arms till he entirely defeats, deposes, and generously r stores his Enemy, after having taken from him an Immense Booty, obtained the Cession of Part of his Dominions, and obliged him to an Annual Tribute. With Copies of Letters, Edicts, Manifesto’s, &c. translated from the Originals under the Hands of both Monarchs. Written in French, and rendered into English with improvements. To which are added, an appendix by the translator, and an Alphabetical Index; a new Map of Persia and the bordering Countries, and a fine Head of Kouli Kan, engraved at Parts from an Original in the Possession of Prince Cantemir the Russian Embassador. London: printed for J. Brindley, at the King’s Arms in New-Bond-Street, Bookseller to his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales; S. Birt, in Ave-Mary Lane; J. Stagg in Westminster-Hall; Messrs. Hodges and Harris on London-Bridge; T. Cooper in Pater-Noster-Row; J. Robinson in Ludgate-Street; and sold by most Booksellers both in Town and Country, MDCCXLII [1742].

First English edition; two parts in one; leather-bound; hardcover; duodecimo (17cm x 10cm x 2.8cm); pp. [4], 163, [1]; 116; bound in contemporary full calf gilt; initial and terminal blanks present; engraved portrait frontispiece; folding map; head- and tail-pieces; capitals; printed side- and footnotes; rear index. Condition: GOOD. Binding secure the rubbing to covers and an abrasion to the upper board. Contents complete with some light toning, old inking to front endpapers, and some minor corner creases. Scarce.

Notes: Rare first English edition of this first-hand account of the life and exploits of Nader Shah (also known as Qoli Khan), a Persian shah known for being one of the most powerful Iranian rulers in the history of the Middle East. While he was powerful, his power corrupted him, and he became exceedingly cruel to his subjects which propelled his invasion of India in the 1730s. This copy, in the original binding, is complete with portrait and folding map. [ESTC T77916].