1894 — Very Good Turkish, Ottoman (1500-1928) Original color chromo-lithograph map. Folded. Oblong folio. (40 x 50 cm). In Ottoman script. Color lithograph. An attractive map which shows Austria-Hungary land with Venice Bay and North Italy. Scale: 1:3.500.000. Dated Hegira: 1310 = [Gregorian 1894]. This uncommon map of Austria-Hungary in Ottoman script was published in an atlas, 'Yeni cografya atlasi', which was issued in Istanbul in the late 19th century. Ali Seref Pasa or Hafiz 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 Matbaa-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 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 mapmaker Ali received names Seref, the honorable, and Pasa, the dignitary. He was also known as Hafiz, the memorizer of the 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 permission of Sultan Ahmet 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 suppressed 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.
