Andrés on Islam and Tavernier on the Seraglio: two 17th century German works on the Muslim World

Tavernier, Jean-Baptiste. Der Neu-eröffnete Türckische Pallast, Das ist Außführliche Beschreibung des Ottomannischen Serrail oder Residentz, und dessen so darin vorgehet [...]. Ins Teutsche übersetzet und dem Druck übergeben durch J. Menudier.

Jena, Johann Gollner for Johann Bielke, 1680.

12mo. (20) pp., 1 blank leaf, 445, (5) pp., 3 blank leaves. Title printed in red and black. With engraved frontispiece.

(Bound with) II: Andrés, Juan. Des für 200 Jahren bekehrten Doctoris, Professoris und Praedicatoris der Muhammedischen Lehre, Johannis Andreae Mauri, nachdenckliches Buch, gegen den Mahomet und die Mahomedische falsche Lehre; von newen in Teutscher Sprache außgefertiget durch [Rudolf] Capell. Hamburg, Georg Wulff, 1685. (54), 218 pp., final blank. With engraved frontispiece. Contemporary vellum with handwritten spine title.

 2,500.00

Rare, early German edition of Tavernier's (1605-89) account of the Ottoman court drawn from his own observations. "The author's journey began in 1630. He went on a mission to Constantinople in 1636, or earlier. He states in the preface that much of his information regarding the seraglio was obtained from two former exployees of the Sultan, one a Frenchman, the other an italian, each of whom had served for many years" (Weber). The author also describes Ottoman ranks and court offices, as well as Ottoman coinage.

Bound after this is a very rare German edition of the widely received account of Islam provided by Juan Andrés, a converted Moor. First published in Spanish in 1515, it achieved immediate fame and was translated into many languages. "A crude anti-Islamic pamphlet by the Moor Abdallah, who took the Christian name of Johannes Andreas (Juan Andrés). The quotations from the Qur'an are often wildly distorted, and their interpretation biased - a fact which was even praised in the Paris edition of 1574" (cf. Göllner).

Some red underlining to Tavernier; some browning, but very well preserved. From the library of the Viennese collector Werner Habel, with his ownership stamp to front pastedown. His note of acquisition from 1976 is loosely inserted.

References

I: VD 17, 39:126588G. Cf. Weber 270 ff. (other eds.), Graesse IV, 43 (1675 French ed.). Not in Cox.

II: VD 17, 23:286870C. Chauvin XII, p. 23, sub no. 86. Cf. Göllner I, 73 (1515 first ed.).