STRAHLENBERG (Philipp Johann Tabbert von). Description historique de l'Empire russien. Amsterdam, Paris, chez Desaint Saillant, 1757. 2 volumes in-12, first edition of the French translation of the first detailed work on Russia, covering many aspects of the empire, including history, linguistics (including Kalmuk and Mongolian vocabulary), natural history, geopolitics, economics, ethnography and sociology, originally published in German in 1726 and in full in Stockholm in 1730. The author was a Swedish officer of German origin who was taken prisoner by Peter the Great's army in 1709 during the Battle of Poltava in the Great Northern War, and remained in Siberia from 1711 to 1721, where he accompanied Daniel Gottlieb Messerschmidt on his exploration of Siberia. Bound in full contemporary marbled calf, spine richly decorated with 5 raised bands, red morocco title-pieces. (dull corners, damage to headpieces). Expert : Mr Nicolas Asvisio - nicolas.asvisio@gmail.com - 06 47 79 88 52