Architecture in Ottoman Empire HC Limited Book 1873 Vienna World's Fair English Turkish

Osmanlı İmparatorluğu Mimarisi – Architecture in Ottoman Empire – T.C. Kültür Bakanlığı Istanbul Edition (1998)

Description:

This monumental 1998 edition of Architecture in Ottoman Empire was published in Istanbul by the Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Culture as a limited hardcover edition of only 750 copies. Produced in an oversized format of approximately 40 × 50 cm, the volume is an impressive scholarly publication, combining exceptional printing quality with large-format architectural plates that faithfully reproduce one of the most significant works ever created on Ottoman architecture.

Rather than being a newly written study, this publication is a comprehensive modern facsimile and reissue of the celebrated Usûl-i Mi‘mârî-i Osmânî (Principles of Ottoman Architecture), originally prepared for the 1873 Vienna World's Fair. Commissioned by the Ottoman government under the supervision of Minister of Public Works (Nafıa Nazırı) İbrahim Edhem Paşa, the original work was intended to introduce the artistic and architectural achievements of the Ottoman Empire to an international audience. It is widely regarded as the first systematic publication dedicated to explaining the principles and aesthetics of Ottoman architecture.

The original publication brought together a distinguished team of scholars, artists, and specialists. The French texts were written by Marie de Launay, while the architectural drawings and illustrations were prepared by renowned artists including Montani Efendi and Boghos Efendi Chachian. Their detailed engravings document mosques, külliyes, monumental buildings, decorative elements, architectural plans, elevations, and ornamental details with remarkable precision, making the work both an artistic masterpiece and an invaluable architectural record.

One of the most distinctive features of this edition is its multilingual presentation. The book contains texts in Turkish, English, French, and German, reflecting the international character of the original 1873 publication. The generous dimensions of the volume allow the architectural drawings and engravings to be reproduced at an exceptional level of detail, making it especially valuable for historians, architects, researchers, and collectors of Ottoman art and cultural heritage.

Because of its strictly limited print run, luxurious hardcover binding, oversized format, and historical importance, this edition has become one of the most desirable modern publications devoted to Ottoman architecture. It serves not only as a reference work but also as a museum-quality collectible that preserves one of the Ottoman Empire's most influential architectural publications for contemporary readers.

Key Features:

• Title: Architecture in Ottoman Empire (Osmanlı İmparatorluğu Mimarisi)

• Original Work: Usûl-i Mi‘mârî-i Osmânî (1873)

• Publisher: T.C. Kültür Bakanlığı

• Publication Year: 1998

• Publication Location: Istanbul

• Language: Turkish; English; French; German

• Format: Limited Edition Hardcover

• Print Run: Limited to 750 copies

• Dimensions: Approximately 40 × 50 cm

• Subject: Ottoman Architecture

• Original Commission: Prepared for the 1873 Vienna World's Fair under the supervision of İbrahim Edhem Paşa

• Contributors: French text by Marie de Launay; illustrations by Montani Efendi, Boghos Efendi Chachian, and other members of the original commission

• Content: Architectural history; Classical Ottoman monuments; Plans; Elevations; Technical drawings; Decorative engravings

• Significance: Modern facsimile of the first comprehensive publication introducing Ottoman architecture to an international audience

• Collector Appeal: Museum-quality oversized edition with a limited print run of only 750 copies