Ottoman Empire Aegean Sea Map 1913 Katip Çelebi Greece Turkey Rhodes Dodecanese Crete
Aegean Sea Map from Kâtib Çelebi's Tuhfetü'l-Kibâr fî Esfâri'l-Bihâr (1913 Edition)
Description:
This Ottoman Turkish map depicts the Aegean Sea and its surrounding territories, presenting one of the most historically significant maritime regions of the eastern Mediterranean through the lens of one of the most important works in Ottoman naval literature. Printed in black and white, the map measures 32.7 × 24.5 cm and originates from the 1329 AH (1913) edition of Tuhfetü'l-Kibâr fî Esfâri'l-Bihâr, published in Istanbul by the Matbaa-i Bahriye (Naval Printing House).
The map illustrates the Aegean Sea together with mainland Greece, the Morea (Peloponnese) Peninsula, the Dodecanese Islands, Rhodes (Rodos), Crete (Girit), and numerous surrounding islands and coastal regions. Geographic names are printed in Ottoman Turkish, reflecting the cartographic conventions of the late Ottoman period. At the time this edition was published, the islands depicted on the map—including the Dodecanese and Crete—were still regarded within the Ottoman geographical and administrative framework, preserving a valuable snapshot of the empire's maritime world during its final years.
The source work is of exceptional historical importance. Tuhfetü'l-Kibâr fî Esfâri'l-Bihâr ("A Gift to the Great Concerning Naval Campaigns") was written in 1656 by the renowned Ottoman scholar Kâtib Çelebi and is widely regarded as the first comprehensive Ottoman book devoted to naval history and maritime organization. The work chronicles major Ottoman naval expeditions, conquests, and the careers of the Kapudan Pashas (Grand Admirals) from the foundation of the Ottoman state through the mid-seventeenth century.
The book was printed only twice during the Ottoman period: first in 1141 AH and later in 1329 AH (1913). This map comes from the second and final Ottoman edition, making it particularly desirable for collectors of Ottoman naval history and cartography.
Beyond its geographical content, the map represents the enduring importance of maritime knowledge within Ottoman intellectual and military culture. Maps issued by the Naval Printing House were intended not only as educational tools but also as visual references for understanding the strategic world in which the Ottoman Empire operated. The Aegean Sea was one of the empire's most vital maritime regions, linking Anatolia with the Balkans and serving as a crossroads of commerce, naval operations, and diplomacy for centuries.
For collectors, this is a highly attractive piece combining naval history, Ottoman scholarship, and cartography. Its connection to Kâtib Çelebi, one of the empire's most respected intellectual figures, significantly enhances its historical and collectible value. It is especially appealing to collectors of Ottoman maps, maritime history, Aegean studies, and rare printed works.
Key Features:
• Type: Ottoman printed maritime map
• Title: Aegean Sea Map from Tuhfetü'l-Kibâr fî Esfâri'l-Bihâr
• Author of Source Work: Kâtib Çelebi
• Source Edition: 1329 AH (1913) Ottoman edition
• Publication Place: Istanbul
• Printer: Matbaa-i Bahriye (Naval Printing House)
• Language: Ottoman Turkish
• Dimensions: 32.7 × 24.5 cm
• Color: Black and white
• Geographic Coverage: Aegean Sea, mainland Greece, Morea (Peloponnese), the Dodecanese Islands, Rhodes (Rodos), Crete (Girit), and surrounding islands and coastlines
• Historical Context: Derived from the first major Ottoman work on naval history and maritime administration
• Significance: Depicts one of the Ottoman Empire's most strategically important maritime regions during its final years
• Rarity: From the second and final Ottoman-era printing of Kâtib Çelebi's famous work
• Collectible Significance: Desirable for collectors of Ottoman cartography, naval history, Aegean studies, and rare printed books