Constantinople through the ages on antique maps and prints.

1578 - Münster - Constantinople
A woodcut view of Istanbul/Constantinople from Münster's German edition of the Cosmographia.
1578 - Münster - Constantinople

1620 - Porcacchi - Constantinopoli
Copper etching from "L'Isole piu Famose del Mondo" (The most famous islands of the world) by Thomas Porcacchi (1530 - 1585) and engraved by Girolamo Porro. The first edition of this work was published in Venice in 1572. This is from the second edition, 1620 published in Padua. A very attractive and uncommon early 17th century map of the city of Constantinople/Istanbul. This wonderful birds-eye view shows a delightful level of detail, including major geographical features such as individual buildings, small islands off the coast, a nice compass rose, and numerous sailing ships. Amazing how many individual buildings are depicted, including quite a variety across the Golden Horn at Pera.
1620 - Porcacchi - Constantinopoli

1770 - The Universal Magazine - Constantinople Survey
Constantinople (Istanbul). Copper engraved map with topographical detail of surrounding area. Published in The Universal Magazine in 1770.
1 The great St. Sophia 2 Yali Kiosk, one gate of the Seraglio 3 The Egyptian Market-place 4 Engi Jami 5 Vali-de Jami, or mosque 6 The Vizir Azem's Palace 7 Jami of Sultan Achmet 8 Jami of Ibrahim Cham 9 Hippodromus or At-Meidan, a Riding-place 10 Seraglio where the deported Emperors are confined 11 The little St. Sopihia 12 Great Bezestin, a Market 13 Vali de Kan, a great Store-house for foreign Merchants 14 Vali de Caravansera, or public Inns, where Travellers and others are received gratis 15 Eski Serai, or the old Seraglio, formerly Omphal, a great Palace 16 Great Bazar, a Market 17 The New Jami, a mosque 18 Vizir Kan, a Market for foreigners 19 Jami of Sultan Bajazet 20 Jami of Shazade |
21 Jami of Ferhad Bashaw 22 Jami of Orta 23 Jami of Sultan Soliman 24 Palace of Aga of Janisaries 25 Jami of Kellis 26 Jami of Aya, formerly St. Anastasius 27 Finer, a Castle of the Grecian Patriarch, and also the College, where the Greek Tongue is taught, in its Original purity 28 Finer's Gate, by which Mahomet II. took the town 29 Jami of Dragoman 31 The Ruins of Constantine's Palace 32 Jami of the Felteha, formerly called Almighty 33 Jami of the Sultan Mahomet, formerly called Holy Apostles 34 Barracks of the Janisaries 35 Jami of David Bashaw 36 Jami of the Arabs 37 Seven Towers Gate 38 Powder Magazine 39 Gardeners Lodgings 40 Fish-Market 41 Sindan, a prison for debt |
1770 - The Universal Magazine - Constantinople Survey

1780 - Le Bosphore de Thrace avec le Ville de Constantiople
1780 - Le Bosphore de Thrace avec le Ville de Constantiople

1899 - Konstantinople-Brockhaus Konversation Lexicon
1899 - Konstantinople-Brockhaus Konversation Lexicon

Das Thal von Goksu (473)
The valley of Sweet waters of Asia (Göksu Deresi). Looking from the front of the Pavillion towards the Göksu Deresi. Constantinople
Das Thal von Goksu (473)

Im Bosphorus - Leuchtturm und Port Fanaraki in Europa (724)
Im Bosphorus - Leuchtturm und Port Fanaraki in Europa (724)

Konstantinopel
Stone litograph by C.C.A. Last, published in the Netherlands, about 1830. Recent hand color
Konstantinopel

Konstantinopel
Stone litograph by C. C. A. Last, published in the Netherlands, about 1830. Recent hand color.
Konstantinopel

Pl06 - Vue générale de Constantinople, prise de la montagne de Boulgourlou, au-dessus de Scutari
From the 3rd English printing. The picture has been significantly modified from the original printing, bringing the European side closer, changing the landscape between the people in the foreground and the Bosphorus and changing the people in the foreground as well.
The largess and depth of the original is lost in this printing.