The first systematic study of the rugs of Central Asia in a very large, impressive format. A beautiful production of the Russian State Press, here in a full red leather binding.
![Image for P. USLAR. Lushnu Anban [Svan Alphabet]. First edition, Tiflis, 1864. #2](https://www.pyrarebooks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/440_1-300x453.jpg)
Very attractive copy of this significant grammar of the Georgian language, the third such grammar to appear in the West. First edition, complete with its two folding plates, finely produced by the French State press. Uncommon.
A great work on the Caucasus and its peoples, from Chechnya to Georgia, detailing their customs and, more originally, their languages, next to a large map of the region. First edition, in very good condition.
An unusual book: produced by a Scottish protestant in Western China, printed in mimeography and detailing and translating many Central Asian dialects related to Turkish. First edition of this remarkable item, here in appealing condition.
A fascinating and extremely rare map, in excellent condition, showing the steam-boats routes on the Black Sea just a year before the outbreak of the Crimean War.
LEVCHINE, Alexis de [Aleksei Iraklevich LEVSHIN, also LIOVSHIN]
Description des hordes et des steppes des Kirghiz-Kazaks ou Kirghiz-Kaïssaks
The first extensive study of the people of Kazakhstan: first French edition, with the same illustrations as the original Russian edition; including a folding map of the area, which was very rare at the time.
Uncommon treatise between Catherine's Russia and the Ottoman Empire, and inbetween two Russo-Turkish wars of the 18th century.
Very rare fiist editoion of this travel to areas "almost completely closed to Europeans" (Vigasin): the first significant Russian publication on Central Asia, "the first geographic exploration of Uzbekistan" (Lebedev) with a detailed description of silk production, and most probably the first printed Russian-Persian vocabulary.
Attractive and uncommon account of southern Caucasus, illustrated with large plates and missing in the usual bibliographies. First edition; a pleasant example in the original printed wrappers.
PUSHKIN, Aleksandr and Sergey LIFAR (editor)
Puteshestvie v Arzrum vo vremia pokhoda 1829 goda [A Journey to Arzrum during the campaign of 1829]
Pushkin's best travel account in a fine bibliophilic edition, with the first publication of his draft.
Very rare early Uzbek publication: a lovely association copy of the first edition, inscribed by the author to an important Russain official in Turkestan. This travel account in the heart of Russian Central Asia contains fascinating details on the economy of the region, especially in the Fergana valley in the Arslanbob mountains, famous for its important walnut forest. No other copy traced.
One of the best Russian war artists in Central Asia: a fine example, signed by Vereshchagin and attractively bound, of this rich visual record of nowadays Uzbekistan and the surrounding regions at the height of the Great Game. Uncommon.
One of the most famous books on the Caucasus, and Georgia in particular; the first significant work on the region; the first large lithographic view of Tbilisi; with hand-coloured costume plates. A lovely, complete example of the first edition, in contemporary publisher's binding.
IAZYKOV, Dmitrii Ivanovich (editor and translator)
Sobranie puteshestvii k tataram i drugim vostochnim narodam, v XIII, XIV i XV stoletiakh [Collection of Travels to the Tartars and Other Eastern Peoples in the 13th, 14th and 15th centuries]
A witness of the Russian interest in the eastern parts of its empire and its neighbours. Includes Carpini's 13th-c. travel account, thought to be the earliest significant Western description of Northern and Central Asia, Rus, and the regions of the Mongol dominion. A fresh example of the rare first edition.