OTTOMAN TURKEY, MID 19TH CENTURY

The present horoscope was drawn up by the 'second astrologer' of the court Huseyin Husni Efendi on Nawruz of the year 1229 (29th Rabi'I AH 1229/ 21st March 1814 AD) for Ottoman Sultan Mahmud II. One of main duties of the assistant court astrologers was to draw up a calendar of predictions/injunctions (ahkam) on Nawruz (New Year) of every year, which would be distributed among the men of the state. These calendars typically consisted of three parts: prayers along with injunctions and predictions for the chief men of the state, starting with the sultan; a calendar showing the months along with various predictions for them; a calendar showing the phases of the sun and the moon along with other astrological events for the year ahead. These pages included information about the seasons, activities suitable to be carried out or avoided, announcements and forecasts for particular days, and tables listing certain important days.

Another two beautifully illustrated horoscopes, both prepared for Sultan Abdülmecid I, were sold in these Rooms 7 April 2011, lot 348, and 24 October 2019, lot 176.