[Armenia]. - Lot 189

[Armenia]. [ALISHAN (Léon)]. L'Arménie pittoresque. Venice, Imprimerie Arménienne de St. Lazare, 1871. In-8 oblong, publisher's brown boards, smooth muted spine, title and number "10" gilt on upper board, gilt edges (spine detached, corners dull, foxing on text pages). Very rare collection by Armenian writer L. Alishan. It consists of 12 plates of photographic reproductions of views and landscapes, based on paintings and drawings, accompanied by a 2-column, 27-page text, including the title. "Alishan (Léon), Armenian writer, born in Constantinople in 1820. Educated at the mechitarist college in Venice, he was admitted to this congregation, received the priesthood and took the degree of Doctor of Theology. After devoting himself to teaching, he became successively director of the Raphafll college in Venice (1848), director of the Armenian college in Paris (1858) and director of studies at the Saint-Lazare seminary in Venice. Since 1876, he has been vicar general of his congregation. Alishan made a name for himself as a poet, literary scholar and historian, and acquired a great reputation among his compatriots [ ]". (Larousse XIXe). Enclosed: [Arménie]. Souvenir de S. Lazare. Venice, [XIX c.]. Album in-12 (14.2 x 10 cm), 15 photographs mounted on strong paper, [1] printed f., contemporary purple percaline.