Memoir Of A Map Of The Countries Comprehended Between The Black Sea And The Caspian; With An Account Of The Caucasian Nations, And Vocabularies Of Their Languages [Ellis, George] Travels & History: Caucasus And Central Asia

The Caucasus: topography and languages --- Impressive large map of the Caucasus, with an interesting description of its countries and peoples, and an unusual 22 pages of various vocabularies, including Tchetchen, Abkhazian, Osetian and Georgian with a distinction with Imeretian and Suaneti too. This authorship of this uncommon work is generally ascribed to the writer George Ellis (1753-1815). "Ellis spent two years in Russia c.1786 attached to the British legation at St. Petersburg" (Atabey). "The British Library's copy, a gift from Ellis's wife to her niece, has a note from the latter confirming [the attribution], and stating that it was written after his return from a visit to the British ambassador to Russia" (ODNB). An appealing example of the first edition. Provenance: Prof. Philip Longworth (1933-2021, historian and writer, esp. on Russian history). Physical description:Quarto (30.5 x 24 cm). iv, 80pp., with large folding map (approx. 90 x 60cm) engraved by S. J. Neele, "General map of the countries comprehended between the Black Sea and the Caspian", borders outlined in contemporary hand-colour. Contemporary half calf over marbled boards, spine with raised bands, darker label lettered in gilt, blind rollwork to covers. Condition:Binding rubbed, label chipped and spine at extremities too; fresh and crisp internally, the large map on thick paper with two small closed tears at fold. Bibliography:Atabey 394; Cox I, 235; Lowndes 731; Miansarov 1907. Not in Blackmer.