VAMBERY ARMINUS, “Voyage d’ un faux Dervich dans l’Asie Centrale”, Paris, 1865. First French edition of a classic travel account, one of the best published in the 19th century. In 8vo (24x17cm), pp.402. COMPLETE, including one map and 34 beautiful full-page lithographs. Vambery (1832-1913) was a Hungarian traveler and Turkologist. Although he was Jewish, he was attracted by the Ottoman culture and studied Turkish, Persian and 5 other languages. After two years in Constantinople, in 1862, he disguised as a Dervish and undertook a dangerous journey towards Central Asia (the origin lands of the Turks) in an attempt to study the secrets of the Turkish world. He was the first European to travel and discover the secrets of the Muslim world. A precious account. 

Half leather binding of the period, clothed boards; four nerves over spine, title in gilt, partly restored at spine and boards lower part; visibly rubbed and bumped. Golden edge pages, tight binding inside, heavilly affected by water stains, mainly over lower part throughout. Otherwise nice copy. Not in Atabey or Blackmer.