Osmanlı Matbuatının Sekiz Punto Nesih Yazı Karakteri ve Türk Hurufat Yapımcısı Mehmed Emin Efendi

Abstract

This paper discusses the 8 point (pt) naskh typeface created in Istanbul between 1870 and 1875 and utilized by Ottoman printers during the late 19 th and early 20 th centuries. In the 1880s, Ottoman printed material began to display a more sophisticated typographic hierarchy, with the proliferation of typefaces in various styles and point sizes being the main reason for this visual development. The historical analysis of Ottoman Arabic typefaces reveals the existence of nine original naskh typefaces that were created and used from 1729 until the 1928 Turkish script reform. Among these nine fonts, the 8 pt naskh typeface distinguished itself by its size as the smallest Arabic type used by Ottoman printers, earning it a crucial role in page layout design. It was first utilized in the 1875 pocket book, Hilye-i Hakani. This study focuses on the visual and historical development of the 8 pt naskh typeface and sheds light on its creator, Mehmed Emin Efendi and uses archival documents to scrutinize the driving force for its creation. Due to the absence of metal types, this paper examines only the printed form of types found in journals, newspapers, and books.