Charming Italian edition of the "Mille et un Quart-d'heure. Contes tartares", originally written in French (in 1715) by Thomas-Simon Gueullette (1683-1766). The collection of orientalist stories was ranked alongside the "Arabian Nights". Although the main purpose of this work, like that of its illustrious model, is entertainment, it also boasts a certain didacticism, particularly about the Tartars and their customs. Tartary was Central Asia, occupied by Turko-Mongol peoples, divided into Chinese Tartary, Russian Tartary, and independent Tartary. In the "Contes tartares" Doctor Abukeler must find a cure for the king's blindness, and until he returns the doctor's son must tell the king a story every day for a quarter of an hour or suffer death.
Rare: only three copies located in library catalogues internationally (Università di Bologna, Biblioteca nazionale Marciana, Biblioteca Civica Rovereto), none outside Italy.
Wit the faded library stamps of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate, Rome, on the front flyleaf and the title page. The edges and corners of the boards are slightly rubbed, occasional foxing and browning. Otherwise very well preserved. OPAC SBN IT\ICCU\UBOE\124483 (2 copies); WorldCat 799511527 (1 copy).