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Lot Essay
This is a fine copy of the Ma'arifatnama, a cosmological encyclopaedia compiled by Ibrahim Haqqi Erzurumi in AH 1170/1756-57 AD. It mostly concerns eschatological topics, such as Hell, but includes intriguing planispheric maps of the Old and New Worlds. These are based on those in the Atlas Major by the Dutch cartographer Joan Bleu (1596-1673), which were well-known in the Ottoman realm in the 18th century.
Although the Ma'rifatnama was composed in 1756-57 AD, all known copies are dated to the 19th century. Another copy is in the Nasser D. Khalili Collection, dated 13 Sha'ban AH 1226/2 September 1811 AD, illustrated in Rogers, 1999, no.74, p.121-123. Rogers also mentions copy in the British Library, MS.PR.12964, dated Shawwal AH 1235/July-August 1820 AD. Others were sold at Christie's London, 4 April 2006, lot 37 and 14 October 2003, lot 112. Our manuscript appears to be the earliest of all the copies mentioned above.
For a list of the illustrations included in this text, please contact the department.
Although the Ma'rifatnama was composed in 1756-57 AD, all known copies are dated to the 19th century. Another copy is in the Nasser D. Khalili Collection, dated 13 Sha'ban AH 1226/2 September 1811 AD, illustrated in Rogers, 1999, no.74, p.121-123. Rogers also mentions copy in the British Library, MS.PR.12964, dated Shawwal AH 1235/July-August 1820 AD. Others were sold at Christie's London, 4 April 2006, lot 37 and 14 October 2003, lot 112. Our manuscript appears to be the earliest of all the copies mentioned above.
For a list of the illustrations included in this text, please contact the department.