Ottoman 1922 Nablus and Haifa Military Map Jerusalem Palestine Samaria Israel Jordan Svilengrad Bulgaria

Nablus and Haifa (Nablus ve Hayfa) – Ottoman Military Map, 1338 (Şemsi calendar, 1922) – Turkish and Ottoman Turkish Edition

Description:

This rare, large-format Ottoman military map, titled “Nablus ve Hayfa” (Nablus and Haifa), was printed by the Ottoman military Map Office (Harita Dairesi). The imprint at the bottom identifies the Map Office as the printing establishment and gives the year as 1338. Produced during the period surrounding the end of Ottoman rule in the region, the map is a remarkable historical document of military cartography and the changing geography of the former Ottoman territories.

Printed in colour at a scale of 1:200,000, the map covers the central and northern parts of Palestine, including Nablus and the mountainous region of Samaria. The western edge depicts the Mediterranean coastline north of Jaffa, around the Caesarea area, while the eastern side includes the Jordan River and the Jordan Valley. Jerusalem is also identified in the lower portion of the map. Its geographical detail and broad coverage make it an interesting historical reference for the region's landscape and settlement patterns during this period.

The map's military provenance gives it particular historical significance. Produced by the Ottoman military mapping establishment, it represents the cartographic work undertaken by the army during a period of major political and territorial change following the First World War. Original Ottoman military maps of this kind are desirable historical documents for collectors interested in Ottoman cartography, Palestine, and the military history of the late Ottoman period.

The reverse features another map at a larger scale of 1:40,000, depicting Mustafa Pasha, identified as Svilengard, now known as Svilengrad in Bulgaria. This map appears to have been based on a foreign-produced map with Ottoman Turkish annotations added to it, creating an interesting example of the adaptation of international cartographic material for Ottoman use. The combination of two geographical areas and different scales makes this double-sided map particularly distinctive.

For collectors of antique maps, Ottoman military history, and historical geography, this large-format map offers an uncommon combination of regional detail, official military printing, and dual-sided cartographic content. Its coverage of Nablus, Haifa, and the Jordan Valley, together with the reverse map of Svilengrad, makes it a compelling historical collectible from the late Ottoman period.

Key Features:

• Title: Nablus ve Hayfa (Nablus and Haifa)

• Date: 1338 (Şemsi calendar), corresponding to 1922

• Publisher / Printing Office: Harita Dairesi (Military Map Office)

• Origin: Ottoman Empire

• Language: Ottoman Turkish

• Publication Format: Large-format, double-sided military map

• Front Map Scale: 1:200,000

• Reverse Map Scale: 1:40,000

• Dimensions: 66.5 × 49.5 cm

• Front Map Coverage: Nablus; Haifa; the Samaria highlands; the Mediterranean coast north of Jaffa; the Caesarea area; the Jordan River and Jordan Valley; Jerusalem

• Reverse Map: Mustafa Pasha (Svilengard, now Svilengrad, Bulgaria)

• Reverse Map Characteristics: Foreign-produced cartographic base with Ottoman Turkish annotations

• Historical Significance: Rare Ottoman military cartographic document relating to the geography of Palestine and the former Ottoman territories

• Collector Appeal: Large-format coloured Ottoman military map featuring two geographical areas, different scales, and historical cartographic detail