The History of the Present State of the Ottoman Empire.Containg the Maxims of the Turkish Polity, the Most Material Points of the Mahometan Religion, Their Sects and Heresies Their Convents and Religious Votaries, Their Military Discipline, etc

London: R, Clavell, J. Robinson & A. Churchill, 1686. Book. Very Good. Hardback. Sixth Edition. 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall. A very good copy bound in contemporary calf, re-spined in matched leather, re-inforced paper to front hinge, new rear endpaper. with five raised bands and original red leather title label laid on. Early heraldic bookplate of Gul Massey (St John's College Cambridge) to front paste-down. Contains, 406pp + 5pp Contents; frontispiece, 29 engraved plates of Ottoman officials, located at pages: 6, 34, 52 (4), 63, 66, 70, 74 (4), 78, 82, 210, 212, 258, 259, 268, 278, 281, 289, 341, 348, 358, 364, 374 and 378. Overall all in good condition, some page browning as might be expected and minor damage to pp, 245 (small corner loss not affecting text), 358, (small loss to edge of plate not affecting text or image), 374 (closed tear to top edge of plate), some damp staining to top corner of pp. 404-406. Sir Paul Ricaut (Rycaut) (1629-1700), a British diplomat, historian and authority on the Ottoman Empire who lived in Constantinople. Samuel Pepys states in his journal that the first English edition was almost completely destroyed in the Great Fire of London, a second edition was published in 1668 and here we have the sixth of 1686. An important and influential work which provides the fullest account of Ottoman affairs during the 17th century. The early owner was William Massey,. Chippendale armorial, crescent cadency mark at fess point. Guli Massey Coll: Div: Joh: Cantab: Soc. NIF. Viner V2739. Son of Roger, linen-draper of Cheshire (?and Susan(nah) Farrar). Born in Chester; baptised 1726 St Peter, Chester. Schools: Tarvin, Cheshire and Ruthin, Denbigh. Pensioner SJC (age 17) 1744. BA 1748/9; MA 1752. Fellow 1751-3. Ordained clergyman, Incumbencies. Married 1758 Acton, Cheshire ('of the City of Chester, Clerk, Master of Arts'; Diocese of Chester licence), Elizabeth ('of Poole in the Parish of Acton'), daughter and eventual heiress of Francis Elcocke of White Pool, Cheshire. Freeman of the city of Chester 1764: 'William Massey, clerk, son of Roger Massey, late of Chester, linendraper'. Died 1802, having been rector of Ditchingham, Norfolk, for fifty years. Will proved Chester 1802 (R Stewart-Brown Wills proved at Chester 1801-1810, part two, M-Z, The Record Society [1912] p.11: 'Massey, William, of the City of Chester, clerk. Ninth September 1802 [will and two codicils]'). Bennett, J H E The rolls of the freemen of the city of Chester, part two 1700-1805. The Record Society (1908), p.361..