SOLTYKOFF Alexis Voyage en Perse.

Vicaire, VII, 575; Schwab, 544; Saba, Bibliographie Française de l’Iran, p. 187 n° 211.

First edition of Prince Soltykoff’s travel impressions in Persia. Rare in publisher’s buckram.

Illustrated work with a two-color lithographed frontispiece and 20 tinted lithographs by Trayer and Émile Beau based on the author’s drawings.

Russian diplomat and artist Prince Aleksei Saltykov is known throughout Europe as Alexis Soltykoff. In 1838, for his last posting as ambassador, he was sent to Tehran, Persia, during the reign of Muhammad Shah, at a time of great conflict between Great Britain and Russia over their interests in India, Afghanistan, Turkey, and Persia. During his ambassadorship, Soltykoff met many key figures involved in the negotiations surrounding these conflicts, but it is his descriptions of ordinary people and their lives that are most interesting. He describes the inhabitants’ way of life in great detail. The illustrations in the book are very interesting from a costume perspective.

Having no vocation for a diplomatic career, he abandoned it shortly after his return to settle in Paris from 1840 onwards and prepare for his travels to India. An original, even eccentric character, driven since childhood by a passion for travel, Soltykoff wrote his book in French, and it was never translated into other languages. His text reveals a beautiful mastery of language and a charming and modest sense of humor.

Foxing, but a good copy in its pretty, perfectly preserved publisher’s buckram binding.