Ottoman 1912 General World History No 9 Ancient Egypt with Illustrations Ahmed Refik

Tarih-i Umûmî (General History) – Büyük Tarih-i Umûmî Series, Original Fascicle Edition, No. 9 – Ahmed Refik, 1328 (1912)

Description:

Ahmed Refik Altınay (1881–1937) was one of the most productive and influential historians and popular writers of the late Ottoman and early Republican periods. Widely remembered by the epithet “Tarihi Sevdiren Adam” (“The Man Who Made History Loved”), he played an important role in bringing historical subjects to a broader reading public through an engaging and accessible style. Originally trained as a military officer at Kuleli Military High School and the Ottoman Military Academy, he later taught history and geography, served as a professor of Ottoman History at the Darülfünun, and was among the founding members of the Turkish Historical Society.

Tarih-i Umûmî (General History) is an original fascicle edition of Ahmed Refik's Büyük Tarih-i Umûmî (Comprehensive World History), representing the series in its original serialized publishing format rather than as a subsequently bound volume. In the late Ottoman publishing tradition, substantial works were also issued in inexpensive individual fascicles, allowing readers to acquire large works gradually and later have the fascicles gathered, sewn and bound into complete volumes. This example preserves that original, ephemeral publishing format.

The fascicle is identified as Aded: 9, indicating that it is the nineth fascicle of the series. The lower-left corner bears the price “Fiyatı: 50 para”  while the lower section gives the publication information as Istanbul – Kitabhane-i İslâm ve Askerî – İbrahim Hilmi, Babıali Caddesinde, 46, with the Rumi publication year 1328 (1912). The very low individual fascicle price reflects the format's accessibility compared with purchasing a substantial multi-volume historical work as a completed set.

The contents include sections concerning the history of Ancient Egypt, accompanied by illustrations. The combination of historical text and visual material reflects Ahmed Refik's broader approach to presenting world history in an accessible and visually engaging manner, and connects this fascicle directly with the richly illustrated Büyük Tarih-i Umûmî project.

For collectors, the most exceptional feature of this particular example is its original uncut, unopened pages. The sheets have never been fully opened along their folds, preserving the physical state in which the fascicle left the printer. Surviving Ottoman books and fascicles in this condition are particularly difficult to encounter today, making the example especially interesting not only for its historical content but also as a rare surviving specimen of the original serialized publishing format.

Key Features:

• Title: Tarih-i Umûmî (General History)

• Author: Ahmed Refik Altınay (1881–1937)

• Series: Original Fascicle Edition of Büyük Tarih-i Umûmî (Comprehensive World History)

• Fascicle Number: Aded: 9 (Nineth Fascicle)

• Subject: General world history, including sections on Ancient Egypt

• Contents: Historical sections relating to Ancient Egypt, accompanied by illustrations

• Publication Format: Original serialized fascicle (cüz) edition, issued separately as part of the larger Büyük Tarih-i Umûmî series

• Price: 50 para 

• Publication Year: 1328 (1912)

• Place of Publication: Istanbul

• Publisher: Kitabhane-i İslâm ve Askerî – İbrahim Hilmi

• Publisher Address: Babıali Caddesinde, 46

• Language: Ottoman Turkish

• Illustrations: Historical illustrations within the fascicle

• Historical Publishing Significance: An example of the serialized fascicle publishing system used to make substantial works available to readers in inexpensive individual installments before later gathering and binding them into volumes

• Author Significance: Ahmed Refik Altınay was a prominent late Ottoman and early Republican historian, professor of Ottoman History at the Darülfünun, and a founding member of the Turkish Historical Society

• Collectible Significance: Particularly valuable as an original fascicle from Ahmed Refik's Büyük Tarih-i Umûmî series and as a rare surviving example of the work in its original serialized publishing format

• Condition: Original uncut and unopened pages, with the sheets remaining in their original folded state. Examples of Ottoman fascicles preserved in this condition are particularly difficult to find today.