[el-İcalet ül-coğrafiye] - [العجالة الجغرافية]

This volume contains a treatise of geography compiled from European works by Mahmud Raif Efendi, with a preface by Ahmet Vasıf. The author of the preface, Ahmet Vasıf, was a native of Baghdad who succeded Enveri as the Chronicler of the Court in 1197 AH (1782-83 CE), and was re-appointed to the same office after Nuri's death in 1213 AH (1798-99 CE). He was ultimately raised to the post of Reis Efendi in 1220 AH (1805-06 CE), and died in the following year. In the preface, after some remarks on the importance of geography, Vasıf says that a new impulse had been given to the long-neglected science by the reigning Sultan, Selim III. Early works, such as Kitab-i ricar by Şerif Edrisi, and the Cihannuma, being out of date, necessitated the curent Reis ül-Kuttab, Mahmud Raif Efendi, who had previously been posted to England as Secretary to the Ambassador of the Porte, to apply himself to the study of geography. He thus compiled in one volume all of the essential principles of this science. He had proposed to translate it into Ottoman Turkish, but finding himself prevented from doing so by his official duties, he entrusted that task to a proficient linguist, Yakovakı, who had previously filled the post of Chargé d'affaires in Vienna or another German-speaking city. The translation was presented to the Sultan, who ordered its printing as an accompaniement to some previously printed maps. The Reis ül-Kuttab and the writer of the preface were directed to revise the text for press and to add to it some necessary explanations. The present copy has been transcribed from this revised edition. The work is divided into fifteen chapters or fusul. The first ten are devoted to preliminary notions of geography and astronomy. The last five, which form the main part of the volume, contain the detailed accounts of countries as follows: (XI) Europe, beginning with England, Denmark, Sweden, Russia, etc. and ending with Ottoman possession on the European continent (ff 29v-78v); (XII) Asia, beginning with Ottoman lands on the continent and ending with Sri Lanka and the Maldives (ff 78v-110v); (XIII) Africa (ff 110v-127v); (XIV) the Americas (ff 127v-147v); and (XV) lands of the North and South Poles, as well as islands newly contacted by Europeans (ff 147v-157v). In the subscription of the present copy, the work is also called the Atlas-i cedid, while the outer edge of the volume contains the lettering Tercüme-yi atlas-i cedid.. This volume was completed on 26 Şaaban 1223 AH (17 October 1808 CE).

Unrestricted

Acquired from the collection of Sir Cladius Rich.

For full catalogue entry, see Rieu, Catalogue of the Turkish Manuscripts in the British Museum, pp. 112-13.

Another copy of the work can be found at Or 1141. For more information on the author of the preface, see Schlechta-Vssehrd, Denkschriften der Königlichen Akademie Vol. VIII, pp. 5-9; and Geschichte der Osmanichen Dichtkunst, Vol. I, p. 552.

According to the colophon, the work, which is there called el-İcalet ül-coğrafiye, was printed in the imperial press in the month of Şaaban 1219 AH (November 1804 CE). Another colophon transcribed on f 4v relates to a ''translation of the New Atlas'', Cedid Atlas tercümesi, which was printed in Üsküdar in 1218 (1802-03 CE). A copy of the 1219 AH [1804 CE] edition of the Atlas is held at the British Library and can be found at 14999.h.2. Hammer mentions an Ottoman Turkish translation of Faden's Atlas, complete with an Ottoman Turkish explanation, as printed in Istanbul in 1219 AH (1804 AH); see Mines de l'Orient vol. VI, p. 286; and Geschichte des Osmanliches Reiches, VII, p. 588.