GUIGNES (Joseph de). Histoire générale des Huns, des Turcs, des Mongols, et des autres Tartares occidentaux, &c. Avant et depuis Jésus-Christ jusqu'à présent; Précédé d'une Introduction contenant des Tables Chronol. & Historiques des Princes qui ont regné dans l'Asie. Ouvrage tiré des livres chinois, & des Manuscrits Orientaux de la Bibliothèque du Roi. Paris: Desaint & Saillant, 1756-1758. - 4 volumes in 5 volumes in-4, 252x196:cxvj pp. misquoted cxviij, 467 pp. misquoted 471; 8, xcv, 522 pp.; viij, 272, 292 pp.; viij, 542 pp.; vij, 517 pp., (1 blank f.). Marbled calf, ornate ribbed spine, marbled edges (period binding). First edition of this work, considered one of the most important of its time on the history of the peoples of Asia. Joseph de Guignes (1721-1800) was a famous orientalist, secretary-interpreter for oriental languages at the Royal Library, professor of Syriac at the Collège de France and then guardian of antiques at the Louvre. In this work, he offers a new approach to Asian history, reconciling the accounts of Western historians with those of Chinese and Muslim writers. The first volume is devoted entirely to the Tables chronologiques & Historiques des Princes qui ont régné dans l'Asie. Copy in contemporary binding. Spine faded, wear rubbed, corners dulled, some headbands damaged. Provenance: M. Caulet d'Hauteville, with bookplate. - Jean-Baptiste Marduel, with bookplate. - Library of a Jesuit institution in Lyon, with stamp on titles.