Musavver Muhit 1909 Ottoman Mag Prince Kuni Kuniyoshi of Japan Ferdinand I Bulgaria General Langlois Montenegro

Musavver Muhit – “Prince Kuni Kuniyoshi of Japan’s Visit to Istanbul and Portraits of Contemporary Political and Military Figures” – Issue No. 19 – March 18, 1909 (5 March 1325) – Ottoman Turkish Edition

Description:

Musavver Muhit was a weekly illustrated Ottoman periodical that began publication on November 5, 1908, shortly after the proclamation of the Second Constitutional Era. Published until August 1909, with a total of 39 issues, the magazine covered political, literary, philosophical, and social subjects. Closely associated with the Committee of Union and Progress, it reflected the political, sociological, literary, and cultural atmosphere of the period. Its pages featured biographies of prominent military and political figures, current affairs gathered from the Ottoman and European press, and articles on literature and contemporary society.

This nineteenth issue, dated March 18, 1909, includes a photograph of Prince Kuni Kuniyoshi of Japan during his visit to Istanbul. Literary content features a poem by Abdülhak Hâmid (Abdülhak Hâmid Tarhan). The issue also presents an article and photograph concerning Mehmed Örfî Pasha, President of the Egyptian Society of Orators, who was visiting Istanbul at the time. Other notable portraits include Nâzım Pasha, the former Governor of Yanina, following his appointment to the Ministry of Justice, and Seyfullah Pasha, whose photograph is accompanied by a reference to his suicide the previous week.

Military and international personalities are also represented. The magazine features General Hippolyte Langlois, a prominent French military figure known for his numerous publications, articles, and military writings, and described in the accompanying text as a friend of the Ottoman Empire. A portrait of Ferdinand I of Bulgaria is also included. Another article discusses Tariq ibn Ziyad and Musa ibn Nusayr, figures associated with the early Muslim conquest of the Iberian Peninsula.

The issue further explores international customs and personalities through a photograph captioned “Montenegrins Kissing the Feet of Their Ruler,” taken in Cetinje, Montenegro. The accompanying text describes this practice as a local tradition. A caricature of Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands adds a satirical and illustrated element to the magazine's coverage of European figures and current affairs.

Key Features:

• Publication: Musavver Muhit, weekly illustrated Ottoman periodical

• Issue: No. 19, March 18, 1909 (5 March 1325)

• Language: Ottoman Turkish

• Publication Period: 1908–1909, with a total of 39 issues

• Japanese Royal Visit: Photograph of Prince Kuni Kuniyoshi during his visit to Istanbul

• Literature: A poem by Abdülhak Hâmid (Abdülhak Hâmid Tarhan)

• Mehmed Örfî Pasha: Article and photograph of the President of the Egyptian Society of Orators during his visit to Istanbul

• Nâzım Pasha: Photograph of the former Governor of Yanina, following his appointment to the Ministry of Justice

• Seyfullah Pasha: Portrait accompanied by a reference to his death by suicide the previous week

• French Military Figure: Photograph and biographical coverage of General Hippolyte Langlois

• Bulgaria: Portrait of Ferdinand I of Bulgaria

• Islamic History: Article concerning Tariq ibn Ziyad and Musa ibn Nusayr

• Montenegro: Photograph captioned “Montenegrins Kissing the Feet of Their Ruler,” taken in Cetinje, with an accompanying explanation of the custom

• European Satire: Caricature of Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands