[31 MARCH INCIDENT / TRABZON IMPRINT] Trabzon kahramani sehid-i muhterem Ilyas: Istanbul'da Otuzbir Mart vakâ-yi irticasinda köprü basinda Abdülhamid'in zâlîm askerlerine karsi durup din ve millet yolunda fedâ-yi can eden Yüzbasi Ilyas Bey'in vatan kardeslerine yadigâridir. [i.e., Trabzon's hero, esteemed martyr Ilyas: This work is a tribute to Captain Ilyas Bey, who stood against Sultan Abdülhamid's oppressive forces at the bridgehead during the reactionary March 31 Incident in Istanbul, sacrificing his life in defense of his faith and nation. It remains a legacy for his patriotic brothers].

Original wrappers. Cr. 8vo. (20 x 11 cm). In Ottoman script (Old Turkish with Arabic letters). 15 p. Restored spine by special tape, chippings on extremities of the front cover, uncut pages. Overall, a good copy. The first and only edition of this epic poem, written in memory of Turkish Unionist Captain Ilyas from Trabzon, one of the first to fall when the sultan's supporters opened fire at the bridgehead in Galata, Istanbul, during the outbreak of the March 31 Incident. The poem, which can also be regarded as an elegy for the Captain, contains severe accusations against Sultan Abdulhamid II. The book was published by the Mesveret Printing House, sharing its name with the Unionist and anti-sultan newspaper that had been published in Trabzon since the 1890s. It was written in 66 verses using an 11-syllable meter. The identity behind the pen name "Maçka Sairi", which appears at the end of the poem, remains undetermined. He was likely a member of the Mesveret newspaper staff, a close acquaintance of Captain Ilyas, and a staunch opponent of Sultan Abdülhamid, as well as a supporter of the Committee of Union and Progress. According to historical sources, Captain Ilyas from Trabzon was the first person killed during the March 31 Incident. Due to this significant distinction, an extensive poem was composed in his honor. While detailed information about Captain Ilyas is scarce, it is believed that he was either a native of Trabzon or became affiliated with Mesveret while serving there. He was likely an Ottoman soldier who shared the same political views as the poem's author. Özege 25512., As of February 2025, we couldn't trace any copies in the OCLC.

Lingue: Turkish, Ottoman (1500-1928)