The Three Brothers;

a classic work on the Persia-Turkey conflict during the seventeenth century and the push to advance British trade. The first collected edition of the various travels of the brothers Sherley.

Sir Anthony Sherley was sent by the Earl of Essex to persuade Shah Abbas to join an anti-Turkish alliance. Sherley set out from Venice with his younger brother Robert bound for the Levant and after they were thrown off the ship for their rowdy behaviour, eventually reached Persia by way of Aleppo and Baghdad. After successfully persuading the Shah to join with the Europeans the brothers made their way back via Russia, where they were imprisoned for a while, Prague, Rome and Venice. After figuring in innumerable intrigues around Europe Sir Anthony died in poverty in Spain. Sir Thomas went to Turkey where he was imprisoned for several years.

First edition; 8vo (19.5 x 12.5 cm); three portrait engravings, contemporary ownership inscription to preface leaf; contemporary polished calf, spine in six gilt compartments with gilt calf lettering piece, board edges gilt rolled, all edges speckled red, a couple of marks to upper board, a very good copy; iv, 204 pp.