Very Good Turkish, Ottoman (1500-1928) Original color map. Folded. Oblong folio. (35 x 52 cm). In Ottoman script. Color lithograph. It shows Sudan and West Africa, Atlas Ocean shores, Sahra Desert, and other parts of Africa. Scale: 1:15.000.000. A very detailed and attractive map. Slightly fading. Otherwise a very good copy. Dated Hegira: 1310 = [Gregorian 1894]. [EARLY OTTOMAN MAP of SUDAN] Sudan. Sâye-i Türkiye Hazret Gazi Sultan Abdülhamid Hân-i Sâni'de Maarif Umûmiye Nezâret-i Celîlesi ruhsatiyle meshur Haset tarafindan Fransa Cemiyet-i Cografya âzâlarindan mütesekkil komisyona mahsûs tanzîm edilmis oldugu son defaki atlasinin tercümesi olarak bu def'a Erkân-i Umûmiyye Dairesi Besinci Fen Subesi'ne me'mûr piyade mirlivâlarindan saâdetlü Ali Seref Pasa ve rifatlubinbasi fütûvvetlü Muhyiddin Efendi maarifetleriyle tertib ettirilmistir. Ali Seref Pasa or Hafix Ali Esref. He was a soldier, who was schooled in Paris as a cartographer around 1862. Already in Paris he published his first atlas with 22 maps, called 'Yeni atlas'. Upon his return to Istanbul he became a chief cartographer at the Maatbaa-i amire Printing Press in Beyazit, which was the successor of the Muteferrika press from 1727. Among others he translated the large Kiepert map of Anatolia to Ottoman. He died in 1907, leaving his large project of a gigantic map of Anatolia in 100 sheets unfinished. Ali's name is often misunderstood or even listed as two different people: Ali Seref Pasa and Hafiz Ali Esref. Until the surname law adopted on June 21, 1934, Turks did not have surnames. They were born with one first name and were until the adulthood described only as sons or daughters of their parent's names. Later they were given titles such as Effendi (Sir), Bey (Chief) or Hanim (Madam) for higher classes, or they were given names according to their work or class. The names were not inherited by children until 1934, when the surname law was enforced. The map maker Ali received names Seref, the honourable, and Pasa, the dignitary. He was also known as Hafiz, the memorizer of Qur'an and Esref, Proud. So Ali Seref Pasa would have a meaning 'Honourable Dignitary Ali, and Hafiz Ali Esref, Memorizer of Qur'an, Proud Ali. Daruttibaa - Matbaa-I Amire Printing Press: The first press in the Muslim world, called Daruttibaa, was founded in Istanbul by Ibrahim Muteferrika in 1727, with a permission of Sultan Ahmeet III. It was located in Muteferrika's house. The first book was published in 1729 and until 1742 sixteen other works followed. After Muteferrika's death, the press was supressed for printing, as printed books were considered dangerous. In 1796 the press was purchased by the government and moved to Uskudar in Istanbul, and in 1831 finally to Beyazit, where it was renamed to Matbaa-i Amire in 1866. The press was closed in 1901 and was reopened in 1908 under the name 'Âmire' In 1927 the name changed to State Printing House. The press still exists and is known for publishing school and educational books. Extremely rare. Not in OCLC.; Not in TBMM Map Collection.
