North America 1906 Ottoman Atlas Map Ottoman Empire USA Canada Mexico

1906 Ottoman Pocket Map of North America From “Umumî Cep Atlası” by Tüccarzâde İbrahim Hilmi

Description:

This colorful Ottoman Turkish map depicts North America and originates from the 1324 AH (1906 AD) edition of "Umumî Cep Atlası" ("General Pocket Atlas"), published in Istanbul and written by the renowned Ottoman publisher and intellectual Tüccarzâde İbrahim Hilmi. Measuring 19 × 17.2 cm, the map formed part of a portable atlas designed for practical everyday use by students, civil servants, and educated readers during the late Ottoman period.

The map presents North America as understood through the geographical knowledge of the early twentieth century, with place names and political divisions printed entirely in Ottoman Turkish script. It illustrates the continent's geopolitical landscape at the dawn of the twentieth century, depicting national borders, colonial possessions, and regional divisions according to contemporary Ottoman geographical scholarship. The map provides a fascinating non-Western perspective on North America, reflecting how the continent was introduced and taught within the Ottoman educational system.

The map was published by Tüccarzâde İbrahim Hilmi (1876–1963), one of the most influential publishers and educators of the late Ottoman and early Republican periods. Through his publishing house, Kütüphane-i Askerî, he produced hundreds of works covering geography, history, military science, and education. His publications played a significant role in modernizing geographical education and expanding access to printed knowledge throughout the Ottoman Empire.

Designed in a compact pocket format, "Umumî Cep Atlası" combined portability with detailed cartographic information, making it an indispensable reference for students, government officials, and travelers. Today, maps from this atlas are appreciated not only for their historical value but also for their distinctive Ottoman perspective on world geography during the years immediately preceding the First World War.

For collectors and researchers, this is an attractive example of late Ottoman educational cartography, combining historical significance, colorful printing, and an uncommon perspective on North American geography. It is especially desirable for collectors of Ottoman maps, antique atlases, educational publications, and world cartography.

Features:

• Type: Ottoman printed regional map

• Title: North America Map from "Umumî Cep Atlası"

• Author: Tüccarzâde İbrahim Hilmi

• Publication Date: 1324 AH (1906 AD)

• Publication Place: Istanbul

• Language: Ottoman Turkish

• Dimensions: 19 × 17.2 cm

• Color: Original color map

• Geographic Coverage: North America

• Cartographic Features: Depicts the geopolitical divisions of North America in the early twentieth century using Ottoman Turkish geographical nomenclature

• Historical Context: Published as part of a portable educational atlas intended for students, civil servants, and educated readers of the late Ottoman Empire

• Publisher Significance: Produced by Tüccarzâde İbrahim Hilmi, one of the Ottoman Empire's leading publishers and contributors to educational literature

• Collectible Significance: Valuable for collectors of Ottoman cartography, antique atlases, educational publications, and historical world maps

• Condition: Edge aging, fold marks, and writings on the reverse side; all visible in the photographs.