[RARE IMPRINT BY ALFRED BLACK - CHURCHILL PRINTINGHOUSE] Anhavadout'ean badjarn ou tarmane [i.e., The cause and cure of infidelity]

NELSON, DAVID (1793-1844), A. B. Churchill, Constantinople, 1855.

Original dark green quarter calf. Five raised bands to spine, title gilt in lettering on the second compartment, marbled cover on the front and rear boards. Foolscap 8vo. (17,5 x 11,5 cm). In Armenian. 272 p. On the recto of the front pastedown and next blank page, a seal of “Yishatak” Library. A very good copy.

Exceedingly rare first Armenian edition of “The Cause and Cure of Infidelity” written by the American Presbyterian minister, physician, and abolitionist Nelson including his account of the conversion to Christianity printed in Constantinople in the Churchill Printing House.

This rare book printed by Alfred Black Churchill (1825-1870), the son and heir of William Nosworthy Churchill, (1796-1846) who caused a diplomatic crisis between the Ottoman Empire and Britain in his period. William Nosworthy Churchill was the founder of the Churchill Printing House which published the first semi-official newspaper in the Ottoman Empire titled “Ceride-i Havadis” [i.e., The Journal of the News]" newspaper. This printing house continued to publish periodicals and books to the late 19^th century in Istanbul.

As of November 2023, OCLC has eight copies in the North American libraries.