[THE 19TH TURKISH INCUNABULA / HABSBURG & OTTOMAN WARS] تاریخ سامی و شاکر و صبحی / Târîh-i Sami ve Şakir ve Subhi [i.e., The Chronicle of Sâmî, Shâkir, and Subhî]

ARPAEMINIZÂDE MUSTAFA SAMI (?-1742).; HÜSEYİN SAKİR (18^th century).; VAKANÜVIS MEHMED SUBHI, (1711-1769).

Müteferrika’s Basmahâne, Dâru't-Tibâati'l-Ma'mûre (Râsid ve Vâsif Efendiler Matbaasi), Konstantiniyye (Constantinople), AH 1198 = [1784 CE].

Bound in original full brown calf with flap (miklep) by Muteferrika Printing House. Folio. (32 x 22 cm). In Ottoman Turkish (Old Turkish with Arabic letters). [2], [6], 238 leaves. The text is framed, with a text block measuring 25.5 x 14.5 cm. Each page contains 33 lines. Printed on a special European watermarked paper acquired during the Ibrahim Müteferrika era. As traditionally done in Islamic bookmaking, the title of the book is handwritten along the lower edge. Two leaves containing pp. 90-94, likely completed from another copy (with trimmed margins), loosely inserted. Occasional foxing on some pages, otherwise, a fine and well-preserved copy. 

Exceedingly rare first and only edition of the 19th incunabulum published by the pioneer of book printing in the Islamic world, and founder of the first Turkish press, Ibrahim Müteferrika (1672-1745), under the direction of his first heirs after his death. 

In this rare work -the first book published by Rasid and Vâsif Efendis, the initial successors of Müteferrika- the events between 1730 and 1744 are chronicled, a period during which Ottoman-Habsburg relations were defined by major military conflicts and shifting diplomatic alliances, culminating in the Austro-Turkish War (1737-1739) and the Treaty of Belgrade. Following the Treaty of Passarowitz in 1718, the Habsburg Monarchy had expanded its territories into the Balkans, acquiring regions such as the Banat of Temesvár, northern Serbia (including Belgrade), and parts of northern Bosnia. However, the Ottoman Empire sought to reclaim these territories. The opportunity arose during the Russo-Turkish War (1735-1739), when Austria allied with Russia against the Ottomans, leading to the Austro-Turkish War of 1737-1739.  The wars concluded with the Treaty of Belgrade (18 September 1739), the Battle of Grocka (21-22 July 1739) & the Siege and Capture of Belgrade (July -18 September 1739). The first war was a decisive Ottoman victory over the Habsburg forces near Belgrade. The defeat had a substantial psychological impact on the Habsburg court and led to a re-evaluation of their military strategy. Following the victory at Grocka, Ottoman forces besieged and recaptured Belgrade, a strategic city previously under Habsburg control. These events between 1730 and 1744 significantly impacted the balance of power in Eastern Europe and shaped the subsequent interactions between the Ottoman Empire and the Habsburg Monarchy.

“Ibrahim Müteferrika (1674-1745) was an Ottoman müteferrika (court official), printer, publisher, author, and translator of Hungarian origin. He was the first person in the Ottoman Empire to establish a printing press and publish books in Turkish.

In 1720, when Nevsehirli Damat Ibrahim Pasha sent Yirmisekiz Mehmed Çelebi as ambassador to Paris, Mehmed Çelebi took his son, Mehmed Said Efendi, along with him. While Yirmisekiz Mehmed Çelebi’s embassy report (sefâretnâme) provided important information about France, his son did not remain idle and contributed to the transfer of many innovations to the Ottoman Empire. During his stay in Paris, Mehmed Said Efendi visited a printing press and decided to pursue similar efforts upon returning to Istanbul.

After his return, he met Ibrahim Müteferrika, and together they began working to establish a printing press. Their idea was supported by Grand Vizier Nevşehirli Damat Ibrahim Pasha. Permission to open the press was granted on the condition that only non-religious works would be printed. They obtained a fatwa (legal opinion) from the Şeyhülislam Abdullah Efendi allowing the printing of secular books, and an imperial edict (ferman) of approval from Sultan Ahmed III.

On December 16, 1727, the foundation was laid for the first printing house, named Dârü’t-Tibâati’l-Âmire. Machines and Latin-alphabet type were imported from abroad. (The source of the Arabic script types is unclear, though there is evidence that Müteferrika produced them himself.)

A paper mill, Kâgithane-i Yalakabad, was established in Yalova. The first printed book of the press was Vankulu Dictionary in 1729. Following that, 16 more works related to history, geography, and lexicography were published. In total, he printed 17 works in 22 volumes.”

Özege 19893., Yazmadan Basmaya: Müteferrika 19.