Ottoman Empire Map by Jean Chiquet, Paris, France, 1719

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Original early-18th-century engraved map titled Estats de l’Empire du Grand Seigneur, depicting the Ottoman Empire across three continents: Europe, Asia, … Read more Original early-18th-century engraved map titled Estats de l’Empire du Grand Seigneur, depicting the Ottoman Empire across three continents: Europe, Asia, and Africa. This example is clearly dated 1719 in the engraved cartouche and bears the publisher’s imprint Chez Jacq. Chiquet à Paris 1719. The map presents the Ottoman Empire at an early Enlightenment moment, extending from Central and Southeastern Europe through Anatolia and the Levant, across Mesopotamia and Arabia, and into Egypt and the North African Barbary Coast. Political regions are defined by engraved boundaries and differentiated with original hand coloring, while coastlines, rivers, and seas are rendered with strong copper engraving typical of early 18th-century French map production. French toponymy is dense and legible, with major cities and regions clearly identified, including Constantinople, Aleppo, Damascus, Baghdad, Cairo, Mecca, and Jerusalem. The Mediterranean, Black Sea, Red Sea, and Caspian Sea anchor the composition and emphasize the empire’s strategic maritime reach. The decorative cartouche at upper right contains the full title and date, identifying the Ottoman ruler as “Grand Seigneur,” Sultan and Emperor of the Turks, ruling territories in Europe, Asia, and Africa. A lower table listing Ottoman rulers reinforces the political and didactic purpose of the map, which was intended both for geographic reference and informed private collecting. Issued by Jean Chiquet, a Parisian map seller active in the early 18th century, this map reflects the commercial dissemination of authoritative geographic models during the reign of Louis XV. It combines political clarity with restrained decorative appeal, making it equally suitable for scholarly collections and interior display.

Condition report: Copper engraving with original hand coloring. Age-related toning and light spotting consistent with an early 18th-century print. Minor edge wear and small handling marks, mainly in the margins. Plate mark visible. No major losses or repairs. Overall very good condition for a map dated 1719. See less