Portrait of a journalist as 'muhibban-i kutup' and s. M. Tawfiq library

Abstract

The bibliophile culture is the Ottoman Empire is usually associated with the names such as Ali Emiri Efendi as an iconic figure in The Second Constitution Period. Yet, the attributions such a Mecanin-i Kutup [Those who are madly in love with the books] or, "Muhibban-i Kutup" [Book Lovers], can be used to describe a great many cultural activists that are generally unknown in academic circles. In modern literature, the figures who can be explained by the term's bibliophile and biblioman has been recognized and appreciated moderately for the role they have played in the prospering of book and library culture. The ones whose intimate relationship with the books have led to their financial ruins and eternal appreciation from history. Only a handful of such figures have got the opportunity to be revived from the annals of history due to recent scholarships. Many of these respectable figures have enriched their libraries and private book collections with extraordinary zest and determination, acquiring vast linguistic knowledge and undertaking extensive voyages in the old world. Thus, they earned the right to be called bibliophile. Most of these scholars, their heroic endeavors, and precious collections have joined the annals of history, except for a handful of few. This current paper is an attempt to revive and recognize one of the greatest bibliophiles of the period, S. M. Tawfiq whose contribution to Ottoman publication in Sebilurresad journal as a travel writer had earned him fame in publication circles, yet, his other contribution to book culture, namely his book collection, has received insufficient attention so far. This current paper is an attempt to pay the due tribute to the man whose expertise on books, along with his insatiable love of knowledge, his journalism, and his outstanding book collection had contributed immensely to the prospering of book culture in The Second Constitution Period. This paper hopes to provide S. M. Tawfiq with the recognition that he certainly deserved.