RARE book by Sir Paul Ricaut (Rycaut) (1629-1700), a British diplomat, historian and authority on the Ottoman Empire who lived in Constantinople and wrote his `History of the Present State of the Ottoman Empire` in the early 1660s (first edition published 1666 but was post-dated 1667). The book includes several b&w plates and a few folding plates with engravings that depict personages and vestments from the Ottoman Empire. 185x115mm. 406 pages. Brown leather Hardcover with gilt lettering on ribbed spine. Page edges marbled. Cover slightly stained and scratched in few places. Cover edges somewhat worn. Front cover detached. Rear cover coming loose (but still intact), hinge broken. Cover edges and cover corners lightly worn. Cover corners slightly bumped. Spine worn, small piece missing. Text block edges lightly browning. Some pages slightly age-stained. Two ex-libris stickers on inner front cover. Ink inscription on whitepage. Pages yellowing and slightly wavy. [SUMMARY]: This extremely rare and precious book has suffered some wear, but is in good overall condition for its age.