An historical account of the British trade over the Caspian Sea : with the author's journal of travels from England through Russia into Persia : and back through Russia, Germany and Holland : to which are added, the revolutions of Persia during the present century, with the particular history of the great usurper Nadir Kouli : illustrated with maps and copper-plates (2 Volumes)

T. Osborne et al, 1762-01-01. 3rd. Hardcover. Very Good. 2 volume complete set. 4to. 3rd ed. Handsome modern rebind. Smooth 1/4 leather over burgundy boards. Fine bindings and covers. Collated. 39 of 40 engravings; 27 of 28 plates; 8 of 9 folding maps and 12 partial-page headpieces. Vol I: xxvii, [1], 460, Index [8] pp. Vol II: xx, 460, Index [20] pp. A few scattered stains. 4 of the maps have been mounted by a bookbinder. Please note that the 1753 edition was printed in 4 volumes, this edition was printed in 2. An important first-hand account of 18th century Persia (Iran). <br><br> Jonas Hanway (1712-86) was an English merchant who traveled to Russia, Persia and the Near East. He was sent by the British Russia Company to Persia to assess the condition of the Company's trade there and to investigate its agent, John Elton. Elton, an English sailor, had been working to establish a British mercantile presence on the Caspian since 1740, when he had secured trading privileges from Nader Shah. As Jamal Beg, Elton was also building a Caspian fleet for Nader. The Russians took a dim view of Elton's serving both as an Iranian naval commander and a British merchant. In 1743 they denounced him as a smuggler and a spy, so Hanway was dispatched to appraise the situation firsthand (Hanway, I, pp. 105-6). ESTC N2781; Goldsmiths 9767; Ghani, p 167; Wilson, p 91 (both citing 1st edition).