[FIRST ENCYCLOPEDIA FOR CHILDREN IN TURKISH LITERATURE / FIRST "ALICE IN WONDERLAND" TRANSLATION IN TURKISH] Çocuk ansiklopedisi [i.e. The encyclopaedia for children]. 4 volumes set

SABIHA ZEKERIYA [SERTEL], (1895-1968); MEHMED ZEKERIYA [SERTEL], (1890-1980); FAIK SABRI [DURAN], (1882-1943), Resimli Ay Matbaasi & Sevimli Ay Matbaasi, Istanbul, 1927-1928.

Original black cloth bindings with lettered gilt title on the front boards and spines, slight chippings on extremities of the boards, fading and discoloration on the third volume's binding, overall a very good set. Roy. 8vo. (24 x 16 cm). In Ottoman script (Old Turkish with Arabic letters). 4 volumes set: (1518 p.), richly illustrated with photo lithographic plates and cliches.

Exceedingly rare set of the earliest children's encyclopedia in Turkish literature including the first Turkish translation of "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland" in the fourth volume, published in the Resimli Ay [i.e. Illustrated Monthly] (later Sevimli Ay [i.e. Cute Moon]) Printing House, which the Sertel Family also published a magazine of the same name and founded in 1924. Alice's Adventures in Wonderland was abridged and translated in three parts as "Alis Tuhafliklar Memleketinde" in the fourth volume of the encyclopedia, accompanied by a selection of original Tenniel illustrations.

The encyclopedia was published until the 1928 Alphabet Revolution and it has been prepared by taking the equivalents published in America, England, and France as an example. The encyclopedia includes translated stories, games, puzzles, and instructive texts on geography, natural history, biographies of famous people, literature as well as stories, fairy and folk tales, history, illustrative atlas, citizenship, school lessons, etc.

Sertels lived in America and Sabiha Sertel prepared textbooks for primary school children in those years inspired by American children's books, the encyclopedia was inspired by its counterparts in America. The structure of the encyclopedia is largely similar to "The Book of Knowledge: The Children's Encyclopædia", edited by Arthur Mee and Holland Thompson, but Serteller did not take every item from it and translate it exactly.

Some articles from the encyclopedia: The Book of The Earth, The Book of The United States, The Book of Familiar Things, The Book of Wonder, The Book of Nature, The Book of Men And Women, The Book of Our Own Life, The Book of Canada, The Story of Famous Books, The Book of Stories, The Book of Poetry, The Book of All Countries, Things to Make and Do, The Book of School Lessons, etc.

The government was given the authority to restrict the freedom of the press and close the newspapers within the scope of the "Takrir-i Sükun" Law, which was enacted in 1925 due to the Sheikh Said rebellion. For this reason, many journalists were arrested and newspapers were closed. Zekeriya Sertel, who became the privileged owner of the magazine because of Cevat Sakir's articles in Resimli Ay, was tried in the Independence Court and sentenced to three years in Sinop. During this time, Sabiha Sertel alone directed the encyclopedia published in fascicles periodically. While the case was pending, she had to change the name of the printing house to "Sevimli Ay".

Sabiha Sertel was the first professional female journalist and publisher in modern Turkey. Her articles and columns advocated for reforming the rights of women and workers and criticized state oppression, imperialism, fascism, and social inequalities in Turkey. Her high-profile activism for democracy, civil liberties, and a free press resulted in social and political pressure, censorship, imprisonment, and ultimately, exile. Sertel is considered the first to publicly marry outside the dönme community, Jews who converted to Islam in the 17th century but privately retained their beliefs and were viewed with suspicion by Muslims. She was the first Turkish woman to be tried in court and imprisoned for her writings. She also was one of the first Turkish women to die in political exile.

Her marriage in 1915 to Zekeriya Sertel, a leading figure in the history of the Turkish press, began a lifelong publishing partnership. Their publications Büyük Mecmua (The Big Review), Resimli Ay, (Illustrated Monthly magazine), and the newspaper Tan (Dawn) served as powerful platforms for opposition voices.

On 4 December 1945, a government-orchestrated mob of thousands destroyed the Sertels' publishing house. In Sertel's autobiography Roman Gibi (i.e. Like a Novel), she chronicles the destruction, leading to their imprisonment and ultimately, exile. The book, written in 1968 from exile shortly before her death, originally was banned in Turkey.

In 1895, Sabiha Nazmi was born in the Ottoman port city of Salonika (now Thessaloniki, Greece) to mother Atiye and father Nazmi. She was the youngest of six children. Her family was part of the dönmeh community, a small group that converted from Judaism to Islam in the 17th century but privately retained their beliefs and was viewed with suspicion by the Muslim population in the empire. By the turn of the 20th century, Sabiha's home was non-practicing and secular like many dönme families.

Özege 3388.; TBTK 7956.; OCLC doesn't show any copy in the libraries outside Turkey, not in any US libraries.