Research Catalog

Two Ottoman Turkish treatises on gardening and the cultivation of flowers

Title: Two Ottoman Turkish treatises on gardening and the cultivation of flowers : manuscript.
Publication: [İstanbul?], approximately 1700-1800.

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Status	Format	Access	Call Number	Item Location
Not available - Please for assistance.	Text	Restricted use	Rare Books 23-551	Schwarzman Building - Rare Book Collection Room 328

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Additional Authors

Description

2 volumes in 1 (1 unnumbered leaf, 105 unnumbered pages, 38 unnumbered pages); 20 cm

Summary

A collection of two Ottoman Turkish treatises discussing gardening and the cultivation of flowers, probably copied during the 18th century and bound together in a single volume. Text is in black (and occasional red) riqāʻ; 15 lines within red (and occasional gilt) rules. It is not clear if both texts are the work of the same copyist. At the very beginning of the volume is a table in which the movements of the stars are related to the seasons. The lengthier first text is an untitled and undated horticultural treatise in which the unidentified author recounts how he set up a garden in Edirne, cleared the area, planted fruit and flowers, and settled there. This garden soon became famous for resembling paradise itself. The final section offers instructions for the long-term preservation of pears, apples and lemons, recommending methods such as sun-drying, wrapping in leaves, and storing fruit in bottles. This work may be a version of the Revnak-ı Bostan (or Revnak-ı Bustan) of Sahibülreis Elhac İbrahim İbnülhac Mehmed, described as the "oldest surviving Ottoman work of the subject of gardening and agriculture" thought to be composed originally in 1654 (Atasoy, page 349). The second, shorter work contained in the volume is "Risale-i Şükufename," a brief treatise on floriculture credited to "Abdullah Efendi bin Galatavi Ruznamçeci Mahmud Efendi," divided into 13 chapters and written at the commission of "His Excellency Mustafa Pasha"; "1190" (i.e., 1776) is said to appear in the text (which, if accurate, more likely is a date the manuscript copy was created since the ostensible patron, Kara Mustafa Paşa, was Grand vizier from 1676-1683). It offers a discussion of the daffodil (chapter 1) and the different types of soil necessary for growing flowers (chapter 2), as well as detailed information on the various kinds of tulips; the Istanbul trade in flower seeds among flower lovers; and the spread of beautiful flowers to the city.

Alternative Title

Revnak-ı bustan
Beauty of the garden
Risāle-i şükūfenâme
Book of flowers

Subject

Genre/Form

Early works.
Specimens.

Note

Title devised by cataloger.
Transcribed date of production, statement of responsibility, romanization of the title, Risale-i Sükufename, description of contents of both works, and provenance from dealer's description.

Indexed In (note)

Atasoy, N. Garden for the Sultan

Language (note)

Manuscript in Ottoman Turkish

Provenance (note)

Copy in Rare Books 23-551 includes an inserted paper with French text in ink: in "Deux traites en langue turque, à la plantation des arbres, [illegible] à la culture du fleurs &c." Dealer notes that this item formerly was part of a private collection in Paris assembled in the 20th century and dispersed in 2022. Also includes another inserted paper with Arabic script in ink that appears to describe the volume.

Binding (note)

Copy in Rare Books 23-551 is in a 19th century limp brown morocco binding with rebacked spine.

Call Number

Rare Books 23-551

OCLC

1429096855

Title

Two Ottoman Turkish treatises on gardening and the cultivation of flowers : manuscript.

Production

[İstanbul?], approximately 1700-1800.

Type of Content

text

Type of Medium

unmediated

Type of Carrier

volume

Indexed In:

Atasoy, N. Garden for the Sultan, page 350 (Revnak-ı Bostan; Ekrem Üzümeri Collection)

Atasoy, N. Garden for the Sultan, page 345 (Risale-i Sükufename; Millet Library 269/147)

Language

Manuscript in Ottoman Turkish Arabic script.

Provenance

Copy in Rare Books 23-551 includes an inserted paper with French text in ink: in "Deux traites en langue turque, à la plantation des arbres, [illegible] à la culture du fleurs &c." Dealer notes that this item formerly was part of a private collection in Paris assembled in the 20th century and dispersed in 2022. Also includes another inserted paper with Arabic script in ink that appears to describe the volume. NN

Binding

Copy in Rare Books 23-551 is in a 19th century limp brown morocco binding with rebacked spine. NN

Added Author

Container of (attributed work): Elhac İbrahim İbnülhac Mehmed. Revnak-ı bustan.

Container of (attributed work): Mahmud Efendizâde Abdullah Efendi, -1668. Risāle-i şükūfenâme.

Research Call Number

Rare Books 23-551

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