Recueil de cent estampes représentant differentes nations du Levant. [With, part two:] Explication des cent estampes qui représentent les costumes des differentes nations du Levant. Avec de nouvelles estampes de ceremonies turques qui ont aussi leurs explications

Paris, 1715. Folio. (19 3/4 x 13 inches). Engraved title, 102 engraved plates (comprising 100 numbered plates and 2 unnumbered, 3 double-page), one leaf of engraved music. Contemporary red morocco, covers ruled in gilt, spine in eight compartments with raised bands, black morocco lettering piece in the second compartment, the others with an overall repeat decoration in gilt, marbled endpapers (expert restoration to the joints)

Provenance: Jacob Bouverie, 1st Viscount Folkestone (armorial bookplate on verso of the title)

A lovely copy of Le Hay and Ferriol's famous work depicting the costume of the Levant: this copy bound in 18th century red morocco.

The plates are based on paintings in the collection of the Marquis de Ferriol. In 1707, Ferriol commissioned Jean Baptiste van Mour to paint one hundred pictures of different officials and races in their costumes: the chief eunuch; a Turkish man cutting himself to show his love for his mistress; a Jewish woman taking goods to Turkish harems; a Greek bride; a Turkish women at leisure; Albanians, Bulgarians, Greeks, Persians and Arabs. When the paintings were complete, Ferriol helped le Hay to publish the present engravings of the pictures. Le Hay's work was an instant success and the plates quickly became the principal source of turqueries for artists and publishers throughout Europe. In recognition of van Mour's talents, he was granted the unique post of `Peintre ordinaire du Roi en Levant' in 1725.

Atabey 429; Blackmer 591; Colas 1819-20; Brunet III, 947-8; Cohen-de Ricci 392l; Lipperheide 413, 414.