Description

This is a rare surviving example of the Molla Nasraddin magazine, published between 1906-1931 for the Arabic, as well as partly Russian and Turkish readers. The name was inspired by the 13th century Muslim cleric Nasreddin, who is known for his funny stories and anecdotes. The magazine, illustrated by contemporary famous illustrators, in a style of Honoré Daumier or Toulouse-Lautrec, but with Arabic humour, depicted satirically various social phænomena, such as inequality, cultural assimilation, and corruption.

The magazine was published in Tiflis (from 1906 to 1917), Tabriz (in 1921) and Baku (from 1922 to 1931) by the Azerbaijani editor Jalil Huseyngulu oglu Mammadguluzaden (1866-1932).

Because of the historical events in the region, as well of a fragile paper, the magazine was printed on, the survival rate of such publications is very rare. 

In 2011 an exhibition, accompanied by a publication Molla Nasreddin: The Magazine that Would’ve, Could’ve, Should’ve, was dedicated to this magazine.