HISTOIRE DE L'ORDRE DES ASSASSINS

1833. HAMMER-PURGSTALL, Josef. HISTOIRE DE L'ORDRE DES ASSASSINS. Ouvrage traduit de l'allemand et augmente de pieces justificatives. Paris, Paulin, 1833. Octavo. [iv]367pp. First French edition. Translated by J.J. Hellert and P.A. de la Nourais from "Geschichte der Assassinen" (Stuttgart, 1818). Hammer-Purgstall (1774-1856), a distinguished and prolific Viennese Orientalist, after a career in diplomacy wrote numerous histories and translated literature from Persian, Turkish and Arabic. He was the first to translate the entire "Divan" of Hafiz into a Western language. The Assassins, a sect within Sh'ia Islam, started in Iran in the 11th century, spread to Iraq and Syria, and was effectively eliminated by the Mongols in the 13th century. Their mountain fortresses still stand. "Assassin" literally means "hashish user," and the young converts performed their acts of terrorism under its influence.Bound in early 20th century navy cloth. Foxing throughout, becoming more pronounced towards the rear, with small dampstains on 2 leaves; Japanese owner's "chop" on title, Arabic bookplate (translation: "This volume is property of the Office of Economic Studies for the Middle East of the Southern Manchurian Railway") on pastedown, else fine in cloth, gilt-titled. The 1961 reprint by Le Club Francais du Livre is the only edition currently available.(Not in British Library) Quite scarce.