4to (285 x 218mm.), 91 watercolour drawings on paper (180 x 125mm.), each window mounted with pale brown borders, paper guards, each captioned in ink or pencil in a nineteenth-century hand, a few with pencil notes on the reverse, later brown half morocco, marbled boards, spine gilt in compartments gilt, gilt edges, upper cover detached, lower joint starting, binding rubbed

Condition is described in the main body of the cataloguing, where appropriate.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

A GOOD ALBUM OF DRAWINGS. The subjects include the Ottoman sultan Mahmud II (1785-1839; sultan 1808-39) in old and new costume, his son, members of his court (some depicted in old and new dress), military figures and household staff, together with other Turkish figures, and the dress of people from Greece, Georgia, Armenia, Bosnia, and Albania, together with trades and professions, and a series of five illustrations of punishments.

Mahmud II pursued a Westernising programme of military, fiscal and economic reforms, as well as dress. In 1829 he issued a decree forbidding the wearing of the old-fashioned costumes, except by clerics. The head-dress became the fez and men wore the black frock-coat known as the Stambouline. Mahmud felt that this new costume led to equality for all his citizens, apparently stating 'I distinguish between my subjects Muslims in the mosque, Christians in the church, Jews in the synagogue, but there is no difference among them in any other way' (J. Freely, Istanbul: The Imperial City (1998)). These drawings show similar characteristics to a collection of 161 drawings sold in these rooms on 4 November 2010, lot 96 (£27,500) which bore a manuscript label 'Costumes civils et militaires Ottomans en 1829', and to an album of 50 drawings in the Atabey collection (no. 292), sold in these rooms 28 May 2002, lot 298 (£11,950).