Or 16264

This volume contains an Ottoman Turkish translation of İbn-i Haldun’s (732-808 AH/1332-1406 CE) famous prolegomena (Mukaddime) to his universal history, entitled Kitabü’l-‘İber. The translation was executed by Pirizade Mehmed Sahib Efendi (died 1162 AH/1749 CE), who was Şeyhülislam from Muharrem 1158 to Rebiülevvel 1159 AH (March 1745-April 1746 CE).

Pirizade was able to translate approximately two-thirds of the Mukaddime (from the beginning until the end of the fifth chapter). In some places, he expanded on the original text with explanations and commentary. Pirizade’s translation circulated widely in manuscript and later in print, thereby helping considerably in making İbn-i Haldun a familiar figure to Ottoman Turkish readers in the eighteenth and nineteenth century Ottoman Empire.

Pirizade’s translation was first lithographed in Bulaq in 1274 AH/1858 CE, with the translation of the final, sixth chapter completed by Mehmed Rifat Efendi. The sixth chapter was later retranslated by the politician, jurist, and historian Ahmed Cevdet Paşa (1238-1312 AH/1823-1895 CE). Pirizade’s translation was published together with Cevdet Paşa’s addition in 1277 AH/1860 CE.

The present volume contains an illuminated headpiece in gilt and polychrome, of good quality, on 3v. There is a simpler headpiece in gold, greenish brown, and red on 1v. There is a table of contents on 1v-2r, though it is not included in the original Ottoman foliation, hence the disparity with the new foliation. The endpapers are marbled, and there are occasional marginal notes throughout, many of which are in the copyist’s hand.

There is no colophon, though the copy is most probably from the 12th century AH/18th century CE.