A 17th century guide to Istanbul
Dhikr awsaf shahr Istanbul [Description of the City of Istanbul].
Tall 8vo (110 x 298 mm). Ottoman Turkish manuscript on cream and yellow-hued polished laid paper. (2), 71-346 (instead of 348, lacking fols. 77-78: a total of 278 ff.). 49 lines of black and occasional red riqa' within red rules, but first bifolium within gilt borders with a pretty gilt and polychrome sarlowh, pasted in. Contemporary full morocco binding with gilt borders. Marbled pastedowns.
€ 28,000.00
Historico-topographic description of the city of Istanbul, written and bound in an unusual tall chancery format. A fairly early example of the name "Istanbul" used as the common Turkish name of the time for Constantinople. Set out in four parts (pp. 71-159, 160-239, 240-295, 296-348), apparently lacking a 70-page first part but with the pretty lapislazuli and gilt 'unwan headpiece preserved on the first page.
Some brownstaing and waterstains throughout; occasional smudges. A few old waqf stamps; ink ownership in the name of Haji Sulayman ibn 'Abdi Efendi. A 20th century French description is pencilled to the front flyleaf.
Provenance: 20th century Parisian private collection, kept in the family for several generations and dispersed in 2022.
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