26 - FLORIO BUSTRON: CHRONIQUE DE L'ÎLE DE CHYPRE. PARIS, 1886

FLORIO BUSTRON: CHRONIQUE DE L'ÎLE DE CHYPRE. PARIS, 1886 First edition, in large 4to, contemporary red leather over boards preserving original publishers paper covers, complete 530 pages, text clean and bright, in almost mint condition. Edited and brought to light by Rene Mas Latrie, this is a lengthy history of Cyprus compiled in the 16th century by Florio Bustron (c.1500-1570). The Historia overo commentarii de Cipro cover Cypriot history from antiquity up to the fall of Lusignan dynasty in 1489. Provides a lengthy account on the geography of the island, on biographies of local Saints and a general history up to 1304. Follows a very detailed account on the 14th and 15th centuries in Cyprus full with information not found in other sources. Bustron belonged to a noble Cypriot family and had access to many local documents not available anymore. He worked in Nicosia as an archivist during Venetian rule and used documents, tax registers and old Crusader local chronicles that perished, as the writings of Philippe de Novare. His history contains invaluable material as the earliest mentions of several local traditions, including one with reference to Halloumi cheese (written as Chialumi ). A unique early source for Cyprus.