2 vols. 8vo. Uncut, as issued provisionally bound in original green wrappers with printed title labels pasted on spine, wrappers strengthened with printer's waste. With four beautifully and finely engraved hand-coloured plates after Persian miniatures, the first and the third plate of the interior of a harem, the second of a Persian lady painting the sole of her feet red after having taken a bath, and the fourth of a Persian seigneur smoking the Kalioun or the Narguilé. (4), XIII, (3), 302; (4), 295 pp. First edition of these letters was written by Joseph Michel Tarcoigne during his voyage to Persia and the Ottoman Empire between 1807 and 1809, as a member of the French embassy of General Gardane (1766-1818) to Teheran. The first 14 letters contain details about the itinerary of the embassy from Constantinople to the capital of Persia, with the description of the countries they traversed. The following three letters are devoted to the history of Persia. The following letters contain observations about Persia's climate, population, commerce, religion, and customs. The work also includes a table of the distances Tarcoigne covered. The letters were translated into English in 1820 under the titles Narrative of a Journey into Persia and Residence in Teheran. Tarcoigne helped negotiate various concessions for French merchants. He was attached to multiple French consulates in the Levant from 1807 to 1814. This embassy was ordered by Napoleon, who gave his support to Persia against Russia and England. Its official goal was to arrange the details of the cooperation between France and Persia. But Napoleon was also eager to open the road to the Indies and to find other allies against Russia. Unfortunately for France, the embassy didn't have many political results, as Persia was not satisfied with the French help. Napoleon stopped supporting the embassy and left the participants in a hostile atmosphere that forced them to leave the country. On the other hand, the embassy was a success from the geographic viewpoint, as it significantly increased European knowledge of the geography of Persia. The next French embassy to Persia was undertaken in 1839 and 1840, a third from 1855 till 1858. Coloured plates in order: Volume 1. 1. Frontispiece. Premier interieur d'un harem. 2. Dame Persanne sortant du bain occuppe a teindre en rouge la plante de ses pieds. Volume 2. 3. Frontispiece. Second interieur d'un harem. 4. Seigneur Persan surnant le Kalioun ou le Narguile.