Beschreibung:

ROCCA, Vicente (fl. 16th century). Hystoria enla qual se trata dela origen y guerras que han tenido los turcos desde su comienc¸ o hasta nuestros tiempos . Valencia: [Juan Navarro], 1556 [dated on colophon 31 October 1555]. First edition of the earliest Spanish text on the Ottoman Turks. It comprises three sections: the first deals with the origin of the Turks and the conquests of the Ottoman Sultans, the second describes the sultanates of Selim and Suleyman, while the third examines the daily lives of the Turks, their customs, religion and the organisation of the Sultan’s court in Istanbul. In spite of the military and religious rivalries between Spain and the Turks, Rocca ‘does not fail to acknowledge that there are certain virtues in the ways Turkish society is organised and the sultans administer justice’ (Thomas and Chesworth). Palau 271434; Thomas, D. and Chesworth, J. Christian-Muslim Relations. A Bibliographical History , vol.6 (2017). Folio (300 x 207mm). Title printed in red and black, large woodcut title vignette, text in double column, woodcut initials, with final blank (tiny marginal repairs on z4-A4 and C2, a few faint scattered spots or stains). Modern binding reusing old vellum sides (repaired tear at head of spine). Provenance : ‘Cayas’ (inscription on title) – erased stamp on title.