Katib Celebi (Mustafa ibn Abd Allah, also known as Hacci Halife)

Manuscript on paper in Ottoman Turkish in Nast'aliq script in black and red ink (286 x 180mm.), 15-31 lines (mostly 29 lines), approximately 390 folios (including 2 divisional blanks), with 45 full-page hand-coloured manuscript maps and 7 hand-coloured illustrations and tables, some of the manuscript text framed within gilt borders; bound with: 203 folios extracted from an Ottoman manuscript on geographical matters inserted in the middle of the main text (between folios 297 and 298); together 2 works in one volume, contemporary Turkish brown morocco gilt, a few short tears, some old waterstaining, expertly rebacked and restored

There are two ownership inscriptions: al-Sayyid 'Abd al-Rahman Nu'man Pasha-zade, dated 1188 (1774-5). He was Kapicibasi, or Palace Doorkeeper; the second belongs to Mehmed Vehid Attifzade, teacher and brother of the Shaykh al-Islam Ömer Hüsameddin Efendi and is dated [AH12]70 (1853-4)

Condition is described in the main body of the cataloguing, where appropriate.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

A rare manuscript of this important Ottoman geographical work. Katib Celebi (1609-1657), was an historian, bibliographer and geographer, and one of the most important Ottoman intellectual figures of the seventeenth century. This work of world geography was his masterpiece, drawing from European atlases and other sources, and making them available in Turkish for the first time. Celebi's first manuscript version was begun in 1648, and dealt with Spain, North Africa and Ottoman Europe. A revision in 1654 included Asia (the version present here), compiled after the author had acquired a copy of the Mercator-Hondius Atlas minor.

Inserted in the middle of Celebi's text (between folios 297 and 298) is a section of another manuscript geographical work, relating to the region from Constantinople to the western frontier of the Ottoman Empire.