VOLNEY, CONSTANTIN-FRANCOIS CHASSEBOEUF: — Simplification des langues orientales, ou méthode nouvelle et facile. D'apprendre les langues arabe, persane et turque, avec des caractères européens. Paris an iii (1795).

Pp. (iv), 136, (3). With 4 engraved tables, of which 3 folding. Uncut copy in marbled boards, title label on spine, slightly rubbed. Some light browning to the title. First edition of the first Arabic grammar written in French. Comte de Volney (1757-1820), a French distinguished and controversial historian and philosopher, travelled to Egypt and the Near East in 1738. During this trip he learned Arabic. In this work Volney uses Roman letters to represent Arabic script which he believes simplifies the study of Arabic for Europeans. De Sacy ii, 2483. Gay 3429. Zenker BO ii, 183.