The Müteferrika Press: Arabic Typography in an Ottoman Context

This book provides an overview of the activity and the output of the first Turkish press in the Ottoman Empire. Known as the Meferrika Press, it was founded in Istanbul and was operated most actively from 1726 until 1747 when its founder Ibrahim Meferrika passed away, though there were some printing efforts before this period and they continued after his death. This volume retells the foundation story and activity of this press, focusing on its publications that were printed in Turkish but in Arabic script. These publications are discussed in terms of publication objectives, authors, contents, format and graphic layout, print run, sales, and later reprints and translations into European languages. The book also includes images of the opening and colophon pages of all 17 publications, as well as images of all the engravings, geographical maps and charts included in them or printed separately. This information will be of particular use to scholars of the history of printing and Arabic typography, as well as to librarians, collectors, and curators who need to identify and catalogue surviving Meferrika publications (books, maps and charts).