Ottoman Empire Hand-Drawn Map Baghdad Vilayet 1890s Manuscript Middle East Persian Gulf
Ottoman Hand-Drawn Map - Baghdad Vilayet, Probably Istanbul, circa 1890
Description:
An exceptional original Ottoman hand-drawn map of the Baghdad Vilayet, created in Ottoman Turkish script around 1890, measuring 19.5 × 15.2 cm.
The map carefully delineates the borders of the vilayet and its sanjaks (districts). A large red circle marks the provincial capital, while smaller red circles denote the major towns and administrative centers. Surrounding provinces such as Halep (Aleppo) Vilayet is also clearly labeled, offering a comprehensive regional context of the late Ottoman administrative geography. The Ottoman territories shown on the map are located in what are today the states of Kuwait, Iraq, and Iran. The map also shows the city of Basra and the Persian Gulf.
This piece is entirely hand-drawn, not printed, which makes it extremely rare. Such maps were typically produced as educational tools in elite Ottoman schools, military academies, and universities during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, reflecting the modernization of Ottoman cartographic and geographic education.
The combination of artistry and academic precision in this example provides valuable insight into how geography was taught and visualized in the final decades of the Ottoman Empire.
Key Features:
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Title: Baghdad Vilayet
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Date: ca. 1890
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Origin: Probably Istanbul
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Language: Ottoman Turkish (Arabic script)
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Medium: Hand-drawn ink and color on paper
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Size: 19.5 × 15.2 cm
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Details:
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Red circles denote provincial and district centers
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Borders and neighboring vilayets labeled
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Clear depiction of Ottoman administrative divisions
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Condition: Minor age-related wear; overall well-preserved for its age
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Significance:
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Rare educational artifact from the Ottoman period
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Documents the empire’s administrative geography and its teaching methods
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Highly collectible, as few hand-drawn Ottoman maps of vilayets have survived
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