Very Rare View of Constantinople

"Constantinople", Artaria, Carlo

This rare and spectacular view of Constantinople was published by Artaria & Co. It depicts the city from the vantage of Uskudar (or Scutari). In the foreground, Turkish men in traditional local dress converse and smoke hookah and chibouk in the rolling hills on the outskirts of the city. Constantinople is depicted in fine detail, with its skyline dominated by the domes and towers that distinguish the city's architecture. Among the recognizable locations are the Sultan Ahmed (or Blue) Mosque and the Hagia Sophia. Numerous ships fill the Bosphorus and Golden Horn. Founded by Carlo Artaria in 1770, the Vienna-based Artaria & Co. originally focused on publishing art and maps before pivoting to become one of the most important music publishing firms of the 18th and 19th century. This is one of only two examples of this view that we have seen on the market.

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Condition: B+

On sturdy paper with faint scattered mildew stains mostly in the margins. A piece of paper tape on verso reinforces the platemark at right.