The book Syria in the Era of Sultan Abdulhamid II, featuring photographs from Ottoman-era Syria, has been presented to history enthusiasts by Demirören Publishing. Containing texts in Turkish, English, and Arabic, the book includes 200 black-and-white and colorized photographs specially compiled from the Yıldız Photography Albums, prepared by order of Sultan Abdulhamid II. The work contains documentary photographs spanning from the construction process of the Hejaz Railway to the old streets of Damascus, from the magnificent caravanserais of Aleppo to the silent ancient cities of the desert.
Showcasing the history, culture, and landscapes of Ottoman-era Syria from approximately 130 years ago, Syria in the Era of Sultan Abdulhamid II was published by Demirören Publishing. Archaeologist Dr. Murat Sav stated that the work emphasizes Syria’s cultural heritage and sociological history, revealing photographs of great historical significance.
Ahmet Boratav, Editor at Zero Kitap and Archaeologist, said: “At that time, Sultan Abdulhamid II sent the best photographers of the era to every corner of the country to capture such images. It was an extraordinary documentation effort aimed at understanding what was happening in every part of the empire. Publishing such an archive and making it accessible to everyone is extremely important.”
Archaeologist Dr. Murat Sav noted that the work highlights Syria’s cultural heritage and sociological history:
“This is what makes the work stand out. Over certain periods, cities, structures, and even people undergo physical change and transformation. Syria has experienced much in recent times, and sometimes these changes have had negative impacts. Unfortunately, cultural heritage has also been affected. The structures that serve as a bridge between the past and the present, highlighting history through their stories, have suffered significant damage due to recent events. The book contains photographs from about 130 years ago.”
Dr. Sav explained that the work also features regions along the route of the Hejaz Railway:
“At the time, communication became easier. The Ottoman Empire had not yet collapsed, and some regions, including Syria, remained part of the empire. Syria has a Hellenistic past and is one of the oldest settlements, dating back thousands of years. During Sultan Abdulhamid II’s reign, Syria stood out as one of the important regions of the empire. The photographs in the book, from Damascus to Aleppo and its surroundings, Raqqa, Idlib, and beyond, are highly valuable documentary records. There are photographs of structures built during the Ottoman period, such as the Süleymaniye Complex in Damascus and the Osmaniye Complex in Aleppo—buildings of great significance for the Ottoman Empire. We can follow their state in the late 19th century, as well as trace the Umayyad Mosque in Damascus, important tombs including that attributed to Prophet Joshua, and many other structures. This makes it possible to easily compare past and present.”
Dr. Sav continued:
“During Sultan Abdulhamid II’s reign, the Hejaz Railway project was launched, connecting the empire’s west with its far south and east. Economic transportation was important, and cultural exchange also came into play. Travel that once took days or months on horseback became much faster with the train, strengthening communication. Another goal was to promote the empire abroad, especially in the Americas and Western Europe. At the time, there was no television and radio had not yet been invented, so photography was the primary medium for presenting the empire. The Syria book published by Demirören Publishing contains about 200 valuable photographic records from the Yıldız Albums—a collection also housed at the Library of Congress in the United States. This access is truly remarkable.”
Ahmet Boratav, Editor at Zero Kitap, emphasized the importance of the work:
“I truly congratulate Demirören Publishing. This book is part of a magnificent photographic collection created under the directive of Sultan Abdulhamid II, known as the Yıldız Albums, which document the entire Ottoman Empire. At that time, Abdulhamid II sent the finest photographers across the country to record images, especially of official buildings and schools, to learn what was being done even in the farthest corners of the empire. This was an extraordinary documentation effort. Publishing such an archive for everyone’s access is invaluable.”
Demirören Yayınları, Prof. Dr. Süleyman Berk’in hazırladığı ‘İlahi Çizgiler: Hat Sanatının Öncüleri’ adlı eseri okurlarla buluşturdu. Eser, geçmişten günümüze hat sanatına yön veren büyük ustaların hayatlarını, eserlerini ve estetik miraslarını bir araya getiriyor. Kitapla ilgili konuşan Prof. Dr. Süleyman Berk, “Hat sanatının gelişiminde bir hocadan meşk almak çok önemlidir. Bu birinci yoldur. Ancak ikinci yol da ondan ayrılmaz: Eskiden yapılmış güzel eserleri incelemek. Bu nedenle, kitabın hat sanatı yolculuğuna çıkan sanatçılar için yol gösterici olacağına inanıyorum. Demirören Yayınları da bu kitabı özenli bir şekilde basarak önemli bir hizmet yerine getirdi. Benim de temennim, bu eserin okuyucular için faydalı olmasıdır” dedi.
The book "Syria in the Era of Sultan Abdulhamid II" , featuring photographs from Ottoman-era Syria, has been presented to history enthusiasts by Demirören Publishing. Containing texts in Turkish, English, and Arabic, the book includes 200 black-and-white and colorized photographs specially compiled from the Yıldız Photography Albums, prepared by order of Sultan Abdulhamid II. The work showcases documentary photographs ranging from the construction process of the Hejaz Railway to the old streets of Damascus, from the magnificent caravanserais of Aleppo to the silent ancient cities of the desert
The masterpiece Beauties of the Bosphorus by English author Julia Pardoe has been republished by Demirören Publishing in a special edition enriched with 80 color engravings. Speaking about the book, Emin Nedret İşli, President of the Antiquarian Booksellers’ Association, said: “It is a very special, valuable, and rare book that depicts all the past beauties of Istanbul both through Pardoe’s writings and through the engravings made by Bartlett. With its orientalist perspective portraying the beauties of Istanbul and the East, this book has attracted great interest both in the West and in the East.”
The stories depicted on the walls of the Chora Church (Kariye Mosque)—considered the last masterpiece of Byzantine art and given its present form in the 14th century by one of history’s greatest patrons of the arts, Theodoros Metochites—have been compiled into a book. Published by Demirören Publishing, Kariye Chora: A Story of Transformation from Church to Mosque presents the narratives illustrated in its mosaics and frescoes. The bilingual edition (Turkish and English) contains 60 stories accompanied by nearly 100 photographs. Archaeologist Dr. Murat Sav stated: “The Renaissance in Italy had, in a sense, already begun in this church during the Byzantine era. Figures began to grow in size and elongate in form. There is no other building in Byzantium with such intense visual and iconographic detail. Here, there are very special elements. The mosque is surrounded by paintings and mosaics depicting some of the miracles of Mary and Jesus. Chora is a truly unique structure, and for this reason, it must be understood correctly both in a touristic and cultural sense.”
During his tenure, architect Antoine Ignace Melling—one of the rare foreigners granted the privilege of entering and depicting the harem after being received by Hatice Sultan, the sister of the sultan—created engravings of Istanbul and the Bosphorus shores, preserving the natural appearance of 19th-century Istanbul for future generations. Melling compiled these engravings, which vividly reflect the spirit of the era, into a book published in France in the early 1800s. Demirören Publishing has now released a facsimile edition of this work, published in Turkish, English, and French.
The history of the Krepen Passage has been published under the title Where is Krepen Passage? , accompanied by numerous documents and images—many of them published for the first time. In this work, author Ümit Nar, through Turkuaz Sahaf Publishing, revives a forgotten scene from the history of Beyoğlu with the meticulousness of an antiquarian. The book narrates in detail—like a “paper archaeologist”—the Krepen Passage, known today as Aslıhan Passage, with its restaurants, tradespeople, antiquarian booksellers, regular patrons, social events, and its contributions to Beyoğlu’s literary and cultural life.
At the Sahaflar (Antiquarian Booksellers) Festival held in Üsküdar Square, around 43 antiquarian booksellers set up stalls. Visitors from various regions—including İzmir, Ankara, the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, and Erzurum—flocked to the event. Emin Nedret İşli, President of the Antiquarian Booksellers’ Association, said: “As antiquarian booksellers, we are very pleased with this event. Rising book prices have affected the book trade in general, but for antiquarian booksellers the picture is somewhat more optimistic. Some books in second-hand shops, especially out-of-print editions, can be more affordable compared to the current prices in the new book market. Interest in antiquarian bookshops has been growing, particularly among young people, students, and dedicated book lovers.”
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