ALISHAN, P. Léonce M. Sissouan ou l'Arméno-Cilicie. Descript - Lot 19

ALISHAN, P. Léonce M. Sissouan ou l'Arméno-Cilicie. Description géographique et historique avec carte et illustrations, translated from the Armenian text, published under the auspices of his Ex. Noubar Pacha, Venice, S. Lazare, 1899. In-4 (33.3 x 24.5 cm), text in French, VII-539 pp, figs, 2 plates, contemporary half tan basane, 5-rib spine decorated with gilt stars, gilt title (spine and boards faded, spotting, upper spine split, foxing, tear not missing on map, small wormholes on lower flyleaf reaching last page). First edition in French. Illustrated with numerous woodcut figures in the text, including maps, facsimiles including signatures in red (pp. 464-81) and gilt coins (p. 247), an hors-texte facsimile after the preface, and a folding color map of Sissouan. Father Léonce Alishan (Constantinople 1820-Venice 1901) was a great Mekhitharist historian (Armenian Benedictine) who described all the Armenian provinces, writing a monograph for each. He died at San Lazzaro degli Armeni in Venice, where he is buried. This volume is a translation of his 1885 Armenian monograph on Armeno-Cilicia, also known as Sissouan, in which he describes the geography, history and culture of this ancient kingdom on the Mediterranean coast. Translation by Fathers Edouard Sirounian and Jacques Issaverdentz, Mékhitaristes. The Armenian Catholic order of the Congregation of the Mekhitarist Fathers occupies the Monastery of St. Lazarus (San Lazzaro degli Armeni) on the island of the same name in Venice, as well as the Mekhitarist Monastery in Vienna, Austria. Rare book. Old library label: "N°40 է ա". Bookbinder's stamp: "Emmanuel Horn, Relieur, Constantinople, Passage du Tunnel, Péra, No. 16". Provenance: E.J. Brill Ltd, Leiden, Netherlands. Catalog no. 534 Caucasica, 1983, cat. 54; Acquired 1983