North America USA 1907 Ottoman Atlas Map Empire Mexico Mehmed Eşref
1907 Ottoman Pocket Map of North America From “Umum-i Vilayet-i Şahane’yi Havi Küçük Atlas” by Mehmed Eşref
Description:
This is an original 1907 (Hijri 1325) miniature map of North America. It was published in the Umum-i Vilayet-i Şahane’yi Havi Küçük Atlas, authored by Mehmed Eşref. This rare atlas included a 32-page brochure in Ottoman script and 128 maps (some composed of two parts), printed on thick paper and loosely inserted after the text. Many of the maps of certain areas worldwide are the first and possibly only Ottoman maps of those regions.
Measuring just 14.5 x 10.3 cm, this finely printed map was part of a compact educational atlas designed for students or officials requiring portable geographic references during the late Ottoman period. It providing a distinctively non-Western cartographic viewpoint. The map depicts the geography of North America in the early 20th century. Major countries are labeled in Ottoman Turkish, including Mexico, Canada.
Despite its small size, the map contains a remarkable amount of detail, illustrating the extent of European colonial influence at the time alongside the Ottoman understanding of global geography.
Features:
- Date of publication: 1907 (Hijri 1325)
- Author: Mehmed Eşref
- Title: Umum-i Vilayet-i Şahane’yi Havi Küçük Atlas
- Language: Ottoman Turkish
- Size: 14.5 x 10.3 cm
- Condition: Minor age-toning, Very good for age