ATABEY (Sefik E.). The Ottoman World. A Bibliographical Catalogue of the Ottoman Empire and Levant, by Leonora Navari.1999

London. 2 Vols., 4to, limited to 750 copies, c. 800pp., over 500 coloured illustrs., orig. cloth, gilt, slip-case. A Superb collection, assembled over thirty-five years, of over 1,300 items, most of which pre-date 1850 and of which some 40% do not feature in the Blackmer library. The highest premium has been put on condition, and with copies having been continually upgraded during the collection's formation, many of the books are in fine bindings. Including much fine colour-plate material, the Atabey library comprises many rare works, printed over Europe, and is especially strong in travel, topography, history, costume, etc. The acquisition of Leonara Navari as cataloguer has proved particularly fortunate as it provides not only a splendid example of continuity following on from her work on the Blackmer library but also, thanks to her considerable scholarship and expertise, will undoubtedly ensure that this becomes an essential and standard work.