Born in Turkey and educated in the United States, Van Lennep began working as a missionary, mainly among the Armenians, from 1840. From 1854 to 1861 his work was centred in Tokat, a town inhabited by many rich Armenians, and the album is especially interesting for its illustration of Armenian costume. In addition there are also depictions of Jewish and Greek costume.

First edition; folio (46.5 x 35.5 cm); sepia lithographed pictorial title, 20 chromo-lithographed plates, some very light scattered spotting, otherwise plates clean and fresh; later half calf, cloth boards, flat gilt spine with gilt morocco lettering piece; a couple of scuffs, otherwise a fine copy; 48pp.

Atabey II, 1274; Bennett (American Color Plate books), p108; Blackmer 1715; Reese 97.