Agathange (Ագաթանգեղոս) - Lot 218

Agathange (Ագաթանգեղոս) Book of epic tales also called d'Agathange, followed by the Letter of Concord (Գիրք վիպասանութեան։- Դաշանց թուղթ), 1709-1710 Constantinole, printed and illustrated by Grégoire de Merzifon (Գրիգոր Մարզուանեցի, Krikor or Grigor Marzvanetsi), 1709-1710. In-4°, 441 pages. Complete with the three full-page woodcuts by Krikor son of Meguerditch of Marzivan: Saint Gregory the Illuminator on his Holy See, The Martyrdom of Saint Gregory, The Conversion of King Tiridate and his Family. These three engravings are among the most original and beautiful in Armenian book art. This is the first edition of the story of Agathange, one of the main sources, along with the story of Moses of Khorene, of the Christianization of Armenia. A very fine copy, despite some worm damage. 19th-century leather binding, rubbed.