OTTOMAN FORERUNNER POSTMARKS OF THE 20th CENTURY
This exhibit illustrates through contemporary postal material the decline and eventual
collapse of the once-great Ottoman Empire in the first two decades of the 20th Century.
It does this by showing a collection of postmarks used in former Ottoman territories that
became independent or were annexed by other countries as a result of Turkey being on the losing side in three consecutive conflicts that occurred between 1911 and 1918. It
should be viewed as a survey of examples of markings from as many different locations
as feasible rather than trying to show all of the different types of markings from a limited
number of places. It is organized both chronologically and geographically, as shown in the Plan of Exhibit on the next page.
The Ottoman Empire was founded in Anatolia in the late 13th Century and took control
of most of the Middle East, North Africa and Southeastern Europe before reaching its high water mark in defeat at the gates of Vienna in 1683. As other nations advanced, the
Ottomans remained in a medieval state, falling behind politically, culturally and
industrially. Consequently, their power gradually receded over the next two centuries to
the point where, by the end of World War I, there was no empire left but only Turkey proper and, even there, the dynasty was easily overthrown in the Kemal Ataturk revolt.
There was a Turkish military post on Bubiyan Island in northeastern
Kuwait until at least 1904. The post office there used 2 marking worded “el-Kuveyt.” Although it isunlisted in the literature, Pulhan certificate states “this is the only recorded cancellation of Kuwait during the Ottoman Empire.”
In all, there were nearly 500 post offices in the Ottoman Empire which could theoretically provide forerunner postmarks in the 20th Century. The availability of potentially
collectable cancellations varies widely, reflecting the size and literacy of the local population, state of economic development and amount of tourism, not to mention the
diligence of the postal clerks. Thus, forerunners from Palestine fill two frames while those from Montenegro only two pages. Another factor is the length of time that the
Ottomans were in control. Relatively developed areas such as Syria and Lebanon, which
were administered by Turkey throughout the period, provided many more examples than
areas in Transcaucasia occupied briefly toward the end of World War I, for which it is
difficult to show more than a single page each.
While not all cancels listed in the literature are shown, there are several dozen pieces included which are newer discoveries. Moreover, approximately a hundred examples in
the exhibit can be considered as extremely scarce, being ranked in the two highest rarity
categories in the specialty handbooks of Coles & Walker.
20th CENTURY OTTOMAN EMPIRE POSTMARKS
OF THE LOST TERRITORIES
Plan of Exhibit
This exhibit is divided into four chronological sub-sections, reflecting the various conflicts resulting in the
loss of formerly Turkish territory during the period from 1911 through 1918. Within these “chapters” the 21
different areas being studied are shown, with representative postmarks of the individual towns being
grouped in the order of their importance and/or geographically:
Territories Lost in the Italo-Turkish War of 1911-1912:
Libya Aegean Islands
Territories Lost in the Balkan Wars of 1912-1913:
Albania Serbia Bulgaria
Montenegro Greece -
Territories Lost in World War I of 1914-1918:
Hedjaz Syma Transjordan
Iraq Lebanon Yemen
Palestine
Territories Temporarily Occupied During World War I:
Aden Persia Armenia
Egypt Georgia Azerbaijan
Romania oo a yay . . - ey
Aen,
be s
(is 1 7
OH 2
-ANM E
LO :
2 GL
, 5 Me; a * cy 2B, . oy
The only stamps issued specifically for what became the lost territories commemorated the I9I1 visit of Sultan Mohammed V to
Kosovo and Macedonia. For this event. 5.000 sets were overprinted with the names of the cities -- Monastir. Pristina, Salonica and
Uskub. This issue was extremely unpopular with the (heavily Christian) inhabitants of these areas. who were strongly opposed to
Ottoman rule, so sales were poor. As a result, Passer’s handbook states that “used on genuine letters, these stamps are very rare.”
TERRITORIES LOST IN THE ITALO-TURKISH WAR 1911-1912
LIBYA 1900-1911
Turkish Administration
From around 1550, the Ottomans controlled the south coast of the Mediterranean, at least nominally. However,
their sovereignty was eroded by the British and French to the point where only Libya remained in Turkish hands
at the beginning of the 20th Century. Although Italy came late to the rush for colonies, it sensed that the Turkish
possessions were ripe for the picking and invaded Libya on 29 September 1911, quickly capturing the major
towns. The Turks accepted Italian rule in Libya by the Treaty of Ouchy signed on 15 August 1912.
a . - a) ewe = ee
Tripoli d'Afrique Tripoli d’Afrique. Vue Générale prise & vol d'oiseau ‘
any q Benghazi
AL Solel tH Ae SM Ategar Dh)
Tripoli d'Afrique was the major commercial center of Tripolitania Province during Ottoman times. (Using “of
Africa” as a part of the name’was to prevent confusion with another Tripoli, which was a port in Lebanon.) It
was captured by the Italians on 5 October 1911. Benghazi was the capital of Cyrenaica Province, where the
Italians deployed a landing force from their warships and took over the town on 4 October A911,
LIBYA
Turkish Administration
Masrata (Misurata)
Registered letter mauled on 8 June 1911 to Lebanon. Handwritten notation of registration and advice of receipt. (Only 2 examples of A.R. mail are recorded from Masrata.}
1900-1912
Derna
Registered letter to Crete mailed on 8 August 1906. Note special 20 para port- to-port littoral rate plus 1 piaster for registration.
Covers from Turkish Libya are among the most difficult of all of the forerunner areas. Registered covers are even more elusive, especially from the smaller towns. Derna, with Bengazi, were the only two locations in Cyrenaica with post offices during the Ottoman period, as most of the commerce. took place in: Tripolitania Province.
LIBYA 1900-1912
Turkish Administration
Azizie Djebeli-Garbi Fessato
Lie vuts nee oy
os a fe sine rheZ | “oe sa
~~ a ~ SSS ee
a
Terhone Zanzour Zilletin
sumarks from 1900 to 1912 have been reported from 21 different towns.in Libya. Coles & Walker Altogether, po
own cancellations from Turkish Libya should state that, with the exception of Tripoli and Benghazi, most of the kn
be considered as very rare.
ot h
a
LIBYA 1900-1912 Turkish Administration
Adjilat
s e
&
| Inbound cover via Tripoli to Adjilat, backstamped on 25 October 1902. The postmark of this small oasis located about 50 miles west of Tripoli has not been recorded previously.
Homs
“t \
Official letter sent on 16 August 1908 from Homs to Tripoli.
Official mail from.the. Ottoman period in Libya is seldom seen, especially that related to the smaller settlements.
LIBYA 1900-1912
Turkish Administration as
“ won
a RA Ghadamis et 28:
Lt 41L Fu— alle ta ava . 3 | at 7 Cover sent to France —— oe th on 15 March 1911 by
aaa. Dbl Lk - Fotitan .. ae” ~~ a member of the
atey * | delimitation mission
; ; sent to establish the
official boundary between Tunisia and
‘ 3 Tripolitania. A most
So, 2 ge | interesting usage. oe e.. |
"6: 16: : eo - . 2 : :
Q| . Monsient A. Quetiant, ~ |e
TPF : fa ; 1} . i
@ Capitaine de Gendatmetie, ~~. 7 / 416-3-41-THY-4
°| / en tettaite, e
e| 770 ue Fautendeau /7C gi
° & A seers (i Somme) Doty . ;
e| lt | Feance nn ol
Seukne
Only three Ottoman post offices were located in the interior of Libya: Fezzan, Ghadamis and Seukne. Examples
of their postmarks are exceedingly elusive.
LIBYA , 1900-1912
Turkish Administration
; . | ’ Nalout
‘ e 3 \a—y 4
; . | Cover from Tripolitania AF OTS 81 ite os_' : { to Scutari on 28 April
sige 1912 with this very
aw {. . elusive marking.
Military Postal Stations
Findik Bou Chicheyr Findik Bou Ghomdje Santiet Bin Adem
The literature lists —" for the above three military postal stations during the war with Italy. Recorded “examples have’ the same:date; suggesting that they. were applied by favor. » :
AEGEAN ISLANDS
Turkish Administration 1900-1912
Due to their close proximity to the mainland of Asia Minor, the Aegean Islands had long been in Turkish hands
although they had a substantial Greek ethnic population. In the spring of 1912, the Italians decided to open a
second front against the Turks, landing a substantial force at Rhodes on 5 May and eventually seizing all of the
islands in the group.
Ae * ee ee me whee ne ----
Rhodes Rhodes (Echelle) =
Ma a
2 p
pg
n n
t n e
MEN epi td Pate Bs mbt Sa
+ ,! ‘ 4 °. e *
ase é
“ Ae? > eo4 le Some “ a eA eo: ‘
“; o
ee,
—_ secsesnee
|
—s
Rhodes was the most important of the Dodecanese Islands, which lie in the southem portion of the Aegean Sea
adjacent to the Turkish coast. It was an important commercial center, generating substantial postal activity.
There was also considerable tourist traffic, which led to a.branch:office:being opened: at the port (Echelle). cr
Leros
1900-1912
e e
c o r
AEGEAN ISLANDS
Turkish Administration
t e s f o y t e
oS
C H I fe
n e ,
z Ba t e ,
uw
CLe¢ f e t ”
G G
e s e
foc c l a x
1 0 9 s y
lg “Se a
H
u l
bby» cen fs.
t a l e .
& v a
e d
oe
ave rik
Feige we AS ‘
Past: card — Postkarte Ss
e y
“ o e s
UL opeyy
or an Italian naval
959.
Leros was the second most important of the islands, and its excellent harbor became the site f base in the Aegean colony. Versions of its postmark differ in size and spelling.
AEGEAN ISLANDS 1900-1912
Turkish Administration
Kalymnos (Calimno)
Cover sent February 1906 Kalymnos to Constantinople.
J. PIPINOS & FILS - HALKI (ARGHIPEL - TURQUIE}a
a ae Se
Kharki (Calchi) fa 9gy ea 4 ‘J 9% oad
Tfee Wilbaes (OG Cover sent in October VE LEAL ae He
1911 from Kharki to . ee
Michigan. SCO - SIO Ale p if”
Lect, Meck
LL SF of LL1EMCOL
The literature lists Ottoman postmarks for ten of the thirteen Aegean Islands, with none known for Lipso, Piscopi
and Stampalia. Except for Rhodes and Leros, all of these are at least very scarce and some-rare.
AEGEAN ISLANDS 1900-1912 Turkish Administration
Karpathos (Scarpanto) Kassos
Patnos (Patmo)
Picture postcard sent on 7 October 1910 from Patmos to Marseille.
Many of the islands had multiple names, reflecting their mixed Turkish and Greek heritage as well as attempts to provide a Westernized version ..- initially French and, after 1912, Italian: For example,.postmarks reading Karpathos and Scarpanto refer to the same island, the second southernmost in the Dodecanese chain.
AEGEAN ISLANDS 1900-1912 -
Turkish Administration
a ee eee ee sf a eee Stankeui (Cos)
: fo sf erfiseunn.
Bod ee Postcard sent 12 me January 1906 from
Stankeui to Smyrna.
Ayr saws San + 3
1aacrirtet t
Le oN .
NEY Leos | UaLor
agetapio eS.
4
Sumbeki (Symi) . 2 usron posTarg yt eRsBrie } . CARTE ROSTAERE . 2%)
Postcard sent on 28 June 1905 from
Sumbeki to Belgium.
AEGEAN ISLANDS 1900-1912 Turkish Administration
Nissyros (Nisiros)
EMIZTOAIKON AEATAPION
Post card-Garte Postale-Postkarte Union postale universelle
Picture postcard sent on 2 January 1906.
dacs
‘
er
= Kcaps, A ws) :
BTU per tip lee bua ERE,
Im p,
Pa ll is &
Co tz ia s.
At hd ne s
Uy
Castellorizo
The postmark of Castellorizo (Castelrosso) is includéd here althotigh it is not in the Aegean but, instead is located south of Asia Minor. However, for administrative purposes, it was treated as a part of the Aegean Islands colony during the period of Italian mule.
TERRITORIES LOST IN THE BALKAN WAR 1912-1913
ALBANIA 1900-1912
Turkish Administration
The Albanian national hero, Skanderbeg, successfully defended the country from the Turks until his death in
1468. Subsequently, Turkey took control of the entire country, which it held for over four centuries. However,
once the allies inflicted major defeats on the Ottoman forces in the Balkan War, an opportunity was created, and
the Albanians were able to declare their independence on 28 November 1912.
Scutari d'Albanie
ee ee ade
* ee wR Aa oe ss wna, 7 oT
an t
Scutari d'Albanie was the major commercial center of the province during Ottoman times. (The use of the
terminology “of Albania” as part of the name was to prevent confusion with another Scutari, which was an Asian
suburb of Constantinople.)
ALBANIA 1900-1912
Turkish Administration
Durazzo (Dradj)
Postekarte = 4rte postale — Postkar
=”
Ne
- 7 ~2 _ = as
Elbassane Lovichne Pouka Tiran
(Lushnje) (Puke)
P a i n a
rir LS
ar y
There were relatively few Ottoman post offices in northem and central Albania. Aside from Scutari, only the port
of Durazzo (sometimes spelled Dradj) would have been considered significant, although Tiran (Tirana) became
the capital of the new country.
1900-1912
Chinkine (San Giovanni di Medua)
Turkish Administration ALBANIA
y a m ”
n e i
[ I N A A n e m r n e n nett
Res
‘ Ee
‘ho
eel
:; 2
g R
Re ar)
L A
Foxe
a re!
o raat
eke |
e
je.S a 0-27 P a
_ : : er er dae yet
PA! oe J...
2
o
—
4
e = ,
foot. n
e
a { ‘ 7
i.
Los NSA a a
af. °
ci po ae 3
| i 1
i 1 | |
@
—_
1 t !
(
weeks
s the
from
Cucusse (Kukes)
Registered cover sent
from town of Cucusse in
northeast Albania on 7
August 1911. This i
only recorded cover
this location.
C O p V y y )
F E M M a G P L L C gy,
a n h y y d a a g o j o u d
AaypPyy - a A a a g a e d a p d o s d
7 a
o o -
e
G h e e
a a n
ALBANIA 1900-1912
Turkish Administration
Avlona (Valona)
(: ‘BRERATTI = “(Al bamia) ©
Ottoman postmarks are recorded from 21 different towns in Albania in the period 1900-1912. Examples of all but two are shown, plus four that are previously unrecorded. Except for a few towns with considerable commercial activity, these markings rangé from scarce to very rare. Those shown above are from southem Albania.
1900-1912
ALBANIA
Turkish Administration
Starova (Cerave)
ae neem ete ae “A
This is one of two
recorded covers from
this location.
Haimara Fier (Fir)
Ottoman postmarks shown above are from southern Albania.
ALBANIA 1900-1912
Turkish Administration Gueuridje (Coritza)
Registered retum receipt cover from Gueuridje to Germany sent 2 October 1900.
In terms of postal facilities, the greatest number of offices was in the far south of Albania, sometimes called North Epirus, a territory later in dispute with Greece.
Wel s at e
e e e
oe ee e
ee
\ é l
ALBANIA 1900-1912 Turkish Administration
Erguiri (Argyrokastro)
LON ma Shang ok oles Be ON,
. <0 Sane , pa
NETPOZ N. MPONTANHZ i PIERRE N. PRODANIS --. s
~ EPEEKA - KOAQNIAS. - - ERSEKA - KOLONIA :
r EGE Ai Gor
€ a a. A
ARIS | = PASSER RI
° et : é
2 Kolonia (Erseka)
Erguiri or Argyrokastro (now Gjirokaster) is the main commercial center of North Epirus.
ALBANIA 1900-1912
Turkish Administration
Delvino (Delvine) Borcesponden-Rate
v o n
_ Senin gostale “hers - WeltposWerein - Unione postal = ee we 8 Du Wile fr bee wey Set eos
a a: FO a= eA AS be sist
es Nia s
Permedi (Permet)
Leskovik Further examples of Ottoman postmarks from North Epirus.
1900-1912 ALBANIA
Turkish Administration
Santi Quaranti (Sarande)
CARTE POSTALE
EAAAE sae GRECE
= eee AEATAPION
“MATE
ws MIOE TAXYAPOMIKOZ EYNAEE
Woe ee _GARTE POSTALE i A he Ls {nion univewelle deo Footeo
eee
(bs Shas ,
CAM nA apo es ennai re glee... a
PG StH CS |
a be,
The most interesting variety of postmarks comes from Sarande, which had the southernmost post office in
alled Santi Quaranti, which translates to "40 Saints." To confuse
Albania. This small port on the Adriatic was c
matters, Ottoman markings provided a variety of spellings, including Sarandoz, Sarandos and Ayi-Saranda.
MONTENEGRO
Turkish Administration 1900-1912
Unlike the other lands in the Balkans, the Turks were never able to conquer the strongholds of the Montenegrins ("Black Mountaineers"). However, some former Ottoman territory was added to Montenegro following the Russo-Turkish War in 1878 and an additional area as a result of the First Balkan War in 1912.
Earle, eet ler
Tachlidja (Plevlje)
Correspondenz-Ké Dopisnica. Old style postmark
inscribed Tashlija in
Arabic still in use in 1900. An TE Gosgh im ‘ _
‘OD typ ott ofp Wea ae Luedberg? ie
Old style bilingual postmark still in use in 1902. The only recorded postal card
showing this Touz cancellation.
Ottoman forerunners from what became Montenegrin territory can be found but are very elusive. The examples’ shown here are from Plevije.in the Sandjak of Novi Pazar and Touz, which is near the border of Albania. as
MONTENEGRO 1900-1912
Turkish Administration
Moykovadj (Mojkovac)
funda title OTKPBITOE NACbMO. ~~
seen aR 1 200 Punyaacke Lananae a
eee Blonde
Kolachine (Kolasin)
Coles & Walker do not separate out Montenegrin forerunners but include them in Yugoslavia. However, it appears
that they list four towns: Akova, Ipek, and Plevije and Touz. However, three other previously unlisted locations
from Montenegro have been identified and are included in the exhibit: Kolachine, Moykovadj and Mith.
SERBIA
Turkish Administration 1900-1913
Serbia came under Turkish rule as a result of their disastrous defeat in the Battle of Kosovo Polje in 1389. In the early 19th Century it gained increasing autonomy until achieving complete independence following the Russo- Turkish War in 1878. After its successes in the First Balkan War of 1912-13, Serbia annexed the northern and. eastem portions of the Sandjak of Novi Pazar, the province of Kosovo and most of northem Macedonia.
RES ae SCH
x s , 2 o Poy Ne Nate #
Wor eah V's S ED EE cps Uskub WICH POSTALE UNIVERSELLE
TURGUIE
mo gaeratcre aagnpennyn
NATE B Ridokisg By a 1 coRRESPEDANC eed sel Bl ra YEVEVE YRGEVRLEVRLE CAO ER TENE TEE ae | “CIS
Uskub (Gare)
—S a <P nm . Nope + pite-ct ext reserie = ee usinoment a adresse
As ce i Ys ante, SEI ere ee ee Uskub (Skoplje) was the capital and chief commiércial center of northern Macedonia. There was:also a post office branch in the railway station which used the designation "Gare" in its postmark.
SERBIA Turkish Administration
1900-1913
Monastir
err 0F \eqeag a fe
V4 - te aK sm . ’ - \ 2 n ‘ ‘ : . wr eeyere 7 él Are ge
> wr
‘yr \ eee
7 +e Ns. Sy wt Nt.
coe Al
Monastir (Gare)
Monastir (Bitolia) was the second most importan'
of the province lying just to the north of the Gree
t city in Serbian Macedonia and the commercial center for that part
k border. It also had a branch P.O. at the railway station (Gare).
SERBIA Turkish Administration
Debrei-Bala sf . x —
Gueilan
Beichta
wie a ii toy because) i :
a a se Chase ty a acct,
a n m
1900-1913
NORTHERN MACEDONIA
Frizovik Nalin
ce
Correspondance.
Union Postale Uni
s
62 ot
is a nr *
Ottoman forerunners have are listed in the literature from about 50 towns that came into Serbian hands at the end of the Balkan War. Except for the largest trading centers, the postmarks range from very scarce to exceedingly rare.
SERBIA | 1900-1913 Turkish Administration
. NORTHERN MLACEDONTA
Tchtib Istroga Kalkan Delen
S wens sae & on SSE
—— -_ 3 a oe Kara Tova
Keuprulu
N B.- Ce coté-cr est reserve fl,
exctusicrment @ Fadresse d
Kilissali
Of this group, Kilissali and Kolachine are unlisted in C&W. The others (except for Ichtib) are rated as very rare.
SERBIA 1900-1913
Turkish Administration
NORTHERN MACEDONIA
Koumanovo Koumanovo (Tcharchi) Kotchana
Korchova
Dis #20 ET AZ INE Ze xe
ie L GMCR FASTALE GMLVERSELEE
pee "RO LTOURGTLIE so ‘* . a aekye
rs ag "Ss } Krouschova Se. 2 ~é |
i Le. ox? — ah pat D 22 AD
OX PN TS PORE NOS ARON EO Gok Sie XK MAAK A
SOK WW
AYER 4 LA CORRESPONDS NS
On 23 October 1912, Koumanovo (shown above) was the site of the most important battle of the Balkan War for the Serbs as it opened the way to a quick victory over the Turks. Of the other postmarks shown, Krouschova is not listed in the literamure. Korchova and Kotchan are rated as rare to very rare.
SERBIA 1900-1913 Turkish Administration
mew mg TS ao ge TL ; aaa a fees ey Se a aa aes a an, es : : NORTHERN MACEDONIA
Neveska
2
By kA BAP
= (PROT KARTE)
f
non
Vi am ar ps
P. Ko yo nt
pp Or pa ae
Osmanie
. S -
Neveska is one of the scarcest Ottoman forermmner markings; shown above is believed to be the only recorded
example on cover. Several towns have the name "Osmanie;" this one is properly located in Serbia near Uskub.
1900-1913 SERBIA Turkish Administration
NORTHERN MACEDONIA
Preveza Palanga Pirechova
NOS re er tee |
e EE
rsh HBT
Pa Ca d
we so
ne n a n n i e s
Banaras war ENO ‘ Se SES SRG I CES Pirlepe
- WE ILTIIN Oa Ze a x a2 7 oe en EYRE Ns SEER NSE BS UNION POSTALE UNIVERSELEE
TRAVIS Hy. seat’) aot ge
Radovichta Rakkalar ‘8s, ;
° Pros ye at » cat a. wtf yh A
She se 2 :
a rs eo Swwteeses #
id Set Ea St = a RNeeaere Oky pT LSS eek
Additional postmarks of small villages, all of which are rated “rare” or higher in Coles & Walker.
SERBIA 1900-1913 Turkish Administration
NORTHERN MACEDONIA
Stroumdja
Zubeftche
XX oH
POUEHCKA A. KAPTA
os ae ~a,4 Olé eae wr
at ja fsod
sees, tS See SY Sosa a ea SE By
Stroumdja not recorded in C&W. Other markings rated "rare" or higher, with .Tikveche (Kavadar) listed as
"extremely rare to unique.”
SERBIA -- 1900-1912 Turkish Administration
SANDJAK OF Novi PaZAR
Priboj Metalka
Pirepol/Senitze
Tachlidja
6 ES NVA
UMISk POSTALE OMEVERSELL
TURQUIE seeds e
org ae
“KK Tres ehud ¢ Hew. «i
kp apsasle
3
EEE See a ee ee ee nen ne
SHNATARE PSH LC
Yeni-Varoche
ar mnt pT arseny ti meee Boete
vi. . |
The Sandjak of Novi Pazar remained a part of the Ottoman Empire based on decisions ofthe Congress of Berlin in 1878. However, it was occupied by the Austro-Hungarian army for 30 years, with the Turks continuing to operate the civil postal service. After the First Balkan War, it was divided between Serbia and Montenegro.
SERBIA 1900-1912
Turkish Administration
Kosovo REGION
Mitrovitza
Pristina
“4 Although Kosovo was inhabited about 90% by ethnic Albanians, it was annexed by Serbia following the First
Balkan War, thus setting the stage for future conflicts (which have continued up to today).
SERBIA 1900-1912 Turkish Administration
Kosovo REGION
Prizrend
: Carte Postale.
t Pour la Sowespontanes i Pour Adresse © wn vow Mae postcard Tee 3 oe ae negative postma 4 ds ree — fe, oa of Prizrend Charshi, a 3h : 5 small branch located in v HEcsp a2 patos S, Ave \ wAtios! ode ells eles. the market area. Rated Le i? b by C&W as "very rare." ip. 2 = 2 car? S472) we Cutt AM. ern cena emer * 9 ce rePv Say fi
bo ansis shel adie
See. Seed
A d e l
Pr op
he ré so rv e
oa gee | | lo oe a,
Ler a bal ae Le a eee rb Ww bs |
ee Le
near: Ez 2 site eee
Kosovo was a true backwater of the Ottoman Empire, a landlocked province with few natural resources and populated mostly by Albanians engaged in subsistence agriculture.
GREECE
Turkish Administration 1900-1912
Turkish nie over Greece is dated from the fall of Constantinople in 1453. The Greek revolt of 1821 was followed by several years of fighting, and at the end of the Russo-Turkish War.in 1829 the sultan formally accepted the independence of Greece. The 20th Century Ottoman forerunners were. created in territories which were taken over by Greece in 1912-13 as a result of the Balkan War, i.e. Southern Epirus, Southern Macedonia and various islands, mainly lying off the coast of Anatolia.
Salonique (Salonica)
arte Postale
” Ha
lo ni
qu e
No ,
14 0,
Salonique Depment. Militaire
[evixy dzogts Oscaahovixys |
Vu générale de Salonique ~. aantited mt b
As befitting the capital and chief commercial center of southern Macedonia, a variety of different postmarks was employed in the Salonica post offices, of which those shown above are representative.
GREECE 1900-1912 Turkish Administration
' SALONICA BRANCHES
& We at Yee I, ah ley 0 Lo Succursale Poste 3
ae fo CYEON POSTALE UNIVERSELLE \ 2. Special oval branch Ys oe
eM Be _ ‘ veh 8 fs ey marking that was
eek used in Salonica.
Salonica (Port) Branch 3
° N. B. Ce coté-ci est réservé
xclusivement t l’udresse.
oo a Pits LP Fro
zu TURQUIES ST Union Postale Universele \
Carte Postaldé et Sey X a ee rr
oS po KAMER ale uP Life Yalilar (Salonique)
/ a a
4 tte Ln foun. — Whee‘,
(B00) (Shee if he) Several branch offices operated under the jurisdicnion of the Salonica post office. Three examples are shown above.
oe
|
Ei li
le ur
a;
Ma tu
ra ss
o S a r a g o u s i
& Ro
us se
.
af
Y ‘
GREECE 1900-1913 Turkish Administration ‘
SOUTHERN MACEDONIA
Aghostos Alassounia Barotine
Avrat-Hissar
Cavalla
Ca:
Bre-
ION POST ALE UN ‘IVERSELLE
Sie een ag WZ ity s_CARTEMPOSTALE
Bladj Catherine
Three of the eight examples shown here (Barotine, Bladj and Dichkat) are unrecorded in Coles & Walker.
GREECE 1900-1913 Turkish Administration
SOUTHERN MACEDONIA
‘ i 4 Daphne (Echelle)
| i
Drama
= as \ a [Pee CN), pbb 3 ad lon ga tS s
Pingo a? a - UNION POSTALE UBIVERSELL pe
Cartolina postaie CARTE POSTAL i
Levelezo-iap Postcard Postkarte®.,,
‘Parlie réservée a la correspondance Adres’ Crs >" ee 2
cadens Or ouw esexaesnetiaveitnttvacdicases terse re cenaneiaiesnoees: z fn Florina
5. seenien comes Daphne was a small port on the west side of the peninsula controlled by the monastery of Mont Athos.
GREECE 1900-1913
Turkish Administration SOUTHERN MACEDONIA
Kesrie
Guerebina
Gumendje
We 3 rp est reserud i: . gts es 4 A ! el
ey oe te ee eee ee SOAP ke: 4 Vaal Staats Beek) :
: hoc Bertin» sen e |
one ~ Ee a . “|
Kara-Ferie
Two of the six ening shown here ( Dolin and Gumendje) are unrecorded i in C&W.
GREECE 1900-1913 urkish Administration
x s SOUTHERN MACEDONIA
Karaferie — =
Livadia
Khourpechta
an Hed carport ’
VY ed. ttawe et sea ane o . A (Rn DA wid’ Doped
dick € noentine ww, Merv
j Zi MYobe ne Mahal, A : a Yn nenny ta ont a yoru £
2 Ae The Lrect BEY S Wyhane ym cre pone i =~ Ce rhte-ci est reserve jl = nd a 2
erelusinement a. Cadrewae. histor Piereenty puce}e 4 ;
4a Mu sms L
C
rtnnone
P M O L
. ¥
Mezzova is unrecorded by Coles & Walker.
GREECE Turkish Administration
1900-1913
SOUTHERN MACEDONIA
Mont-Athos
Ayion Oros
This overprint is very controversial. Five
theories about the
meaning of the Greek letters (S, Ch, P) are noted in Passer. Listed
as a local issue of late 1880 by Michel and accepted in 1900 as valid for postage.
Se
. ees guares
The monastery of Mount Athos, located on the eastem branch of the Chalcidice Peninsula, was an important
religious site. To meet the needs of pilgrims, posumarks were provided in either Greek (Ayion Oros) or French.
GREECE 1900-1913 Turkish Administration
SOUTHERN MACEDONIA
i nn . Mavrova (Kesrie)
Ostrovo Pirlepe Porvei Pravechta
The cancels of Mavrova and Pirlepe are unlisted in Coles & Walker.
GREECE Turkish Administration
ae Mevit a, é
IOS LZeLe
1900-1913
SOUTHERN MACEDONIA
Pursidjan
Polygros
ite
‘ \
!
‘ ays , a 7 5 : | A , J ” pase Per lates Uy Ps ts . oun .
. ee me grees .
aa LS: 3 ‘ £ a?
lat se
Sari-Chaban
Serfidje (Servia)
GREECE , 1900-1913 Turkish Administration
a - 1 SOUTHERN MACEDONIA
~ Sree. | a Sedjiste
~ te | ee e me - ee he J
Seres
(Yan oe “EAAHNIKON FYMNAZION TZOTYAIOY le
‘ MAKEAONIKHE @PIAEKMAIAEYTIKHE AAEAPOTHTOZ — |
Tchotil
Sorovitche Timour-Hissar
GREECE 1900-1913
Turkish Administration
SOUTHERN MACEDONIA
Yenidjei- Vardar
c N = s >
(pps yd bos
95 Af :
: Zilhova
oy s , s s . ! _ s i
0 LVS oro .
u
" ,
Vodina
GREECE 1900-1912 kish Administration
aekis oe SOUTHERN Epirus
Aidonat
a tN ewe RAVES ASE LN CCS RAR Re
* aadyt Le] Hees Wh LEW! & Go. Doftfarte Ye ek | Ro:
Bea BANQUIERS
. : | aoe Carte postale | JANINA. | nS = A La. 7 ape
N a
PR een
™ ST ere,
Gelener: » TBR gtionans ~ =e
tae FH mu { a 7S é , pee }
. ~* }
Bayrakli
eos Zz Pog ige SF Fw Be ad
been ons stantinag le. &
Shows previously unrecorded negative cancel of this small village near Janina.
1 e t n ,
BLICKENSDERFER
Schreibmaschinen-Postkarte. Kokoli
The Greeks successfully drove the Turks out of Epirus in the early stage of the Balkan War, annexing the southern part while northern Epirus became a matter of contention with Albania.
GREECE Turkish Administration
EMIZTOALKON AEATAPION-~-CARTE POSTALE
Ala thy aAAndoypagiav
= byeure og Lutes? se se 2 By
\
‘ , | é = ! 3 t/ ~ . - eee eae
iz 4 a ' a 3 : = fe “ ry 3 | 2 Mw ! Ss ; py in i 4 / Ys 1¥i |
3 : ef ay: | 3 . . _ we ee = — 3 f 3 . a . - a “ _ oe ee a oi Lise. a a / a a 3 “5
= i?
ae en roe a OTS Speer
Ss - at oo - a : .
wo Die
i Mon sew §
( X M C u
Y foow
hey thal fer
of
5 feu joer pny ge item 4
Ge»
-
Ce
anata a fi ee a Stephan. Mooi sy
ba rele 2 ;
1900-1912
SOUTHERN Epirus
Janina
Loros
Klissoura
[oon ‘Lenten hie,
a, {mein a Ee = in fae : |
_ ms = “Ea as een. ope ae aU
Marghalidj Poghon Pargha Preveza Rechadie (Janina)
Four of the eight markings shown here unlisted in Coles & Walker. Marghalidj and Pargha are rated "very rare.”
59 1
P & C
At he
ne s
GREECE 1900-1912 Turkish Administration
. SOUTHERN EPrrus
EAAAZ ~—— GRECE
ETIMIZTOAIKON AEATAPION MAPKOZMIOE TAXYAPOMIKOZ EYNAEZMOZ
CARTE POSTALE
ak y, 1 ae
-~ > ae —_—_ eesee
Narda Keuprusu
| Zagoritz (Klissora)
Carte Postale. Postkarte. Cartolina postale-~ Dopisnice. Correspondenzkarte. Levelezé-Lap.
Post card. Weltpostverein. | Briefkaart.
Union postale universelle. Unione postale universaie. Ma
Beexipuorit novrosnit cows. Poccia. Orepritoe BHCBMO: a
Karta korespondencyjna. Korespondencni listek. ~ 7 -
Brefkort. Brevkort. Tarjeta postal. Se (6 0%
~,
.
N. Be ArPA@iaTHEZ. APTA
This postcard is the only recorded example of Zagoritz postmark on cover.
Two of the five markings shown here unlisted in Coles & Walker. Philates and Zaghor rated "very rare."
GREECE 1900-1913
Turkish Administration
ISLAND OF THASOS
Thassos
sium anenemcerecasemrse 38 Sos 8 4 Tachos-Hamidie
Osmanie-Thasos
The decisive defeat of the Turkish army in Macedonia and Thrace allowed the Greeks to seize various islands in the
upper Aegean Sea, including Thasos.
GREECE 1900-1913 Turkish Administration
IsLAND OF CHIOS
Chio
Voliso (Chio)
IsLAND OF LEMNOS
Lemnos
LE ote en Chios and Lemnos were located very near the Asian mainland but had ethnic Greek populations. Chios had only two post Offices, the postmarks of which are shown above.
GREECE 1900-1913
Turkish Administration
ISLAND OF MYTILENE
Filia (Kalonia) Kalonia ~ . Molyvo Metelin
——<———
: \
r 5 od i N.-8. — Ce cute cf est reserre
eS Bef Vv : ey
|, :
4
Vitt Fhx
Mytilene was the most developed of the islands and had nine oolt offices in the forerunner period, including Vatose
(for which the discovery example is shown). |
GREECE 1900-1913 Turkish Administration
ISLAND OF SAMOS
Samos
UNION POSPALE-UNIVERSELLE ,
CARTE POSTALE
ISLAND OF NICARIA
Kariot
TURN IN FIVE DAYS TO
_ RGH STEEL COMPANY VESSEN, PENN’A.
The islands of Samos and Nicaria had only one post office each. The latter was the southemmost island available to the Greeks as the other Aegean Islands further south had already been taken by the Italians in 1912.
BULGARIA
Turkish Administration 1900-1913
Bulgaria was taken over by the Turks in 1396 following the battle of Vidin. It gained its independence after the Russo-Turkish War of 1877-78. After its successes in the First Balkan War of 1912-13, the Bulgarians annexed
the southem fringe of Eastern Roumelia and Western Thrace.
Moustapha Pacha (Svilingrad)
F pen for Pe ew $8 ype JO ae us E58 ¥ PRS Con yf EL Wada ety
- cs “Kh Fre
IN PALES sg “aH D2, LEO lf Bik
[ yo <
7
Moustapha Pacha (Gare)
As the largest town in the annexed area of Southern Roumelia, Moustapha Pacha used a variety of. different
postmarks, “of which those shown above are representative. Lower card mailed from the railway station.
BULGARIA 1900-1913 Turkish Administration
SOUTHERN ROUMELIA
Ahhitchelebi Dari-Dere Dolin
a
a sees en cnet ail ef NE Djoumaai-Bala
sa de
o a
Eyri-Dere
In 1885, Bulgaria annexed a substantial part of Eastern Roumelia. At the end of the Balkan War in 1913, it took over the remaining southem fringe of that territory, which contained 16 towns with Ottoman forerunner cancels.
BULGARIA Turkish Administration
Menlik
po op ae
ee -
Kochi-Kavak
1900-1913
SOUTHERN ROUMELIA
Kirdje Ali
Nevrocope
XK
a = (ES ‘ies bp dogy A aay ei Githopw
UPAR 7 J —F
by Koa pinto ax Cas KG REA
Loe bse he S Constr
In general, forerunners from this area are quite elusive due to the lack of commercial mail in such a hinterland. For
example, Kochi-Kavak is unlisted, while the others shown here range from “rare’ to “extremely..rare.' ' This is
especially true for postmarks on registered covers from Menlik and Nevrocope.
BULGARIA 1900-1913
Turkish Administration SOUTHERN ROUMELIA
Palaz
Re ee ae 1.
| We
™—S_ i 2 . ao : ' NwB.— Ce cote-c1 est reserve | nS ety el Ales oe ps
erclusivement & ludz esse. \VV pe pea® Ay St ebb ey Se Ean ~~ . 4 Petridj vem) te ec ee oe -- = wi yaaa
wre
boo .
SIUILION peda pis ove)
EA 279 Pb |
et 0 BX 3 Ve PY
IND
Forerunner covers from small villages in the Bulgarian area are especially elusive.in this period. ___.
1900-1913 BULGARIA
Turkish Administration SOUTHERN ROUMELIA
Cy Razlik
Lg ie , . re i
‘ . ee Tamrache
sge Meee = oe aR t }
Chea ¥ F G , yo? SL, si A , * ed re
Praa ; ta ™
eS ma ” siete”
Seymenli \ o
i : ad }
i,
/ f fo é \
Sy Cover from Resne is noteworthy. It is a military letter (sent in 1910 by an enlisted man or non-com as it was free of
postage as attested by negative unit marking). Mail from troops on garrison duty in this period is highly unusual.
BULGARIA Turkish Administration
s ot a a
On aU ue wie op 2)
‘a ro" anf
|
| cas | | |
| |
1900-1913
SOUTHERN ROUMELIA
Tirnovadjik
Vassilicos
Timovadjik is listed but not rated in C&W: only two covers with this postmark have been recor listed with a rating of "very rare" and the violet cancel makes it even more so.
ded. Vassilicos is
BULGARIA
Turkish Administration
Dimetoka “,
=
L m
4 5
OQ SA NV IN OL LO I
F
1900-1913
WESTERN THRACE
_ Dede-Aghadj
(Alexandroupolis)
Feredjik
Because Western Thrace is now part of Greece, forerunners from this area are often not identified as Bulgaria.
However, the Bulgarians annexed the area from the Turk
until after World War I. Therefore, it is proper to include 5 after the First Balkan War, and the Greeks did not get it
this district withthe other Bulgarian forerunners.
BULGARIA : 1900-1913 Turkish Administration
WESTERN THRACE
Gumuldjina (Komotini)
UNION POSTALE UNIVERSELLE Z |
CARTE POSTALE
Port Lagos
2 _ostPi NAHMIAS & FILs
GUMULDJINA
Adnan Tél Shique ?
NAHAIAS
Sofilou
With the transfer of Western Thrace to Greece in 1919, Bulgaria lost its ports on the Aegean Sea and became dependent for shipping on th Black Sea and out the Bosphorus.
TERRITORIES LOST IN THE FIRST WORLD WAR 1914-1918
HEDJAZ 1900-1917
Turkish Administration
The final period of Turkish rule in the Hedjaz was from 1845 to 1917. It ended as a result of a successful Arab
revolt led by Colonel Lawrence and Sherif Hussein. The most important locations are Mecca and Medina, two of
the Holy Cities in the Moslem religion.
= Djedda (Jedda)
sy wm ue SAA:
SB. f., SRR ARCs) UNION POSTALE
eee EMP UR Eee Bs \Y >} Oh LARTER aye Postal card sent to Vienna
a2 aye Ao se : on 18 January 1915,
= pase. Fo ' struck with the only Cet
: recorded example of the
av
el
VA
y EF
official negative seal for
| censorship.
|
k ‘ a
. SQ ~s af P SA
F A C U L T A T I Y V
ey
my s}
eo at e e e
n e
H A S T N Q R
R E A D A M
DE D
|
( I N D I C A T I O N
Postmark inscribed "Djedda" used on registered parcel tag to Zanzibar dated on 6 July 1913, an extraordinary usage.
e r e
—
d j
Pa le
Most of the commercial activity in Hedjaz during this period was through the Red Sea port of Jedda, which
accounts for the relative availability of mail from this city.
HEDJAZ
Turkish Administration
i “ hg a ae.
g Some exceilent ilustra “ making. Showing some 97 2a designs. s
& Soe 3 SASS 3 \ . ‘ ~
3 X ve
4 Oo a \ No $ rp) 7 18 tee 6 Wee: te riya oY he = fe c G a ty \ q = by i§ 2. 3 . | 8 ’
SF At eg 2 f we, \ 3 CA = a\. A \ = ry g Ms * = ue ‘ < oO % \ 27 y
ue g “J
wore SX te ~ ho & &,
> 14 “NON PF, ot pts 8 A ‘ \ a 6
N le
1900-1917
Medina
Postmark of Medine on postcard sent on 27 February 1916 to a Turkish doctor in Berlin. Large circular cachet is of the Ottoman Red Crescent Society Medina Hospital P. O. Only two examples of
Cover sent by Turkish officer from Medina to Istanbul on 13 March 1917. Special seal cachet of the Medina Wireless Telegraph P. O. This is the only recorded example.
this marking recorded.
ee een
| {
|
|
> oc, lee, |
WL | °* |b ‘ oe .
° mana woe ' i we J! > _ |
Aa aor ee Bie
The third major city in Hedjaz is "Medine-i Munevvere" (Medina the Enlightened). It is second only to Mecca in importance in the Moslem pilgrimage because its Prophet's mosque contains the tomb of Mohammed.
HEDJAZ 1900-1917
Turkish Administration
Damascus-Medina TPO
2 \ea
N5 D N S )
ane : oS Be ie Postmark of the Hedjaz
JBN Ce ‘eget ants on ue eye . Railway used on a
NLS - o Hb der sb , yalsh cnr postcard sent on 9
wae. | 7 gr ee : February 1917, a most
N dy ne a unusual usage.
[Z gt el
m a v e n s
De h
x ff
-
g re
df §
av g’
. q
Z
i.
op (f °
Octagonal postmark
used on cover sent
on 11 September ae i .
1916 by an Turkish vg g a =
officer of the Hedjaz 2 OY :4 Expeditionary Force
from Medina to
Istanbul. The special
seal cachet is of the
Hedjaz Transport a
HQ.
my
V f
SS
5
Fi
a c d
a j
S g p o w a d
cS l e r
e a
1d,
| Ca d e
=
HEDJAZ 1900-1916 Turkish Administration
Mecca
ae Se
wile oe Sh Ve 4
4
: f LM EC Cu . R as = 7
ep 8 he
a ee ee
Postmark of Mekke used on registered letter to India mailed on 27 January 1905. The use of the special registration label is most unusual.
The Holy City known as "Mekke-i Mukerreme” (Mecca the Revered) was a very important location, being the focus of the haj or Moslem pilgrimage. It was a key objective of the Arab revolt which began on 10 June 1916. The city was taken by the rebels on 9 July 1916, thus ending the long rule of the Ottomans.
HEDJAZ
Turkish Administration
Internal postcard sent by a Turkish soldier from
Mecca to Medina on 20
March 1916. Negative seal
is the cachet of the "Mecca
the Revered, Headquarters
Command."
1900-1916
Mecca
Octagonal postmark of Mekke on postcard sent by an artillery officer on 18 March 1916. The negative seal at top is the unit cachet of the "Hedjaz Command." Oval mark is the censorship seal.
* > s j , vs
a ae 3 Gorgspon ag ‘ ——e
te * 3 : “3 >. 4
a> 2: x a4 . ta ot *s, ? v C7 X by we Jee Cis uw et E ar
. 2 eb
~ * . a ¢ ‘ 27
os eg Tee * \
- 4 ee Lee .
CE NG SE a=
te Plo 19d
—_— ue cer wes ree
ew sar oey gk eo ae etl pete
By ee - ce : fed ae ws tees Ne
7 oe. L yo, . * "* CELE SE Be a AVE oye Sopp}
i , 4 . a ; D0 028 ayy! ad BPI? gM, I
, mF 1g ee - cores SPW DP galore a geo
ae, André Terzis & Fils. Beyrouth—ferusSiten a” we
wed
ae pe? viv TURQUIEL: ig _7 1 USIOKE POSTALE UNIV ERSELI
A?le ) L, CCARTE POSTALERpa = 2 A \ ay" + hae
i
m
: <7
A 1
a ob ee
Le (he? co ei yh’
ares, fy ne
“4.7 te - 4 AS BP Ys ¢ ~ oy > pros *S
HEDJAZ 1900-1916 Turkish Administration
Ebha | Hedye Yambo
ION POSTALE UNIVERSELLE EMPIRE OTTOMAN -
/_ CARTE POSTALE Sp
fas
Inbound postcard from Sana, Yemen to Taiz in the Hedjaz. This is a
- : : oer > very uncommon routing ole "Sy - He) Ss. See SS and a highly elusive
A D M E s S S E
D i
Sapa as ar ae
x
Zz 2 s Zz x
Ebha and Konfida (not shown) were the only two towns with post offices located in the Sandjak of Asir in southern Hedjaz. In fact, until 1899,.this.area had been attached administratively to the Province of Yemen.
HEDJAZ Turkish Administration
Sy tte gy les GS
4.
O n U A
4 -
’
N s )
{ =o
VA
“\ 33 )
4 “if
¥ So
UN
2
‘ 4 A g
‘y ea ,
t Wh
ee
po t
7
~
.
(2 2
Postcard sent from
1900-1916
Taif
Taif postmark on a substantial piece of a money order form, a most unusual usage from the Hedjaz.
Tebouk
Tebouk, the northernmost he
station on the Hedjaz line 5 30
on 1 October 1916. This : marking is one of the most Aa 7
elusive in the province. te |
HEDJAZ
Turkish Administration
2 cotée-ci est reserve
Hedjaz Expeditionary Force
Postal card sent by a member of the 58th Division, then stationed at El Ula, to Istanbul on 22 January 1918. Transit mark of Damascus 2. The rectangular negative marking is the cachet of the 58th Division HQ -- only recorded example.
Pement a Uadresse. \ got et a Feel ey fa le ere :
2
1900-1918
EI Ula
The only special postmark used in the province was from E] Ula on 19 August 1907 to commemorate the opening of service
| on the Hedjaz railway to that point.
}
‘ =
ol y
o o
%
oy ,
a s
BN5
a 7“ K S
CB O! Ct
) ~ wd
hn ki n A S
( O R
ap e
o
a}
Including Jedda, Mecca and Medina, ten post offices operated in Hedjaz during the 1900-1916 period, nine of which are shown in the exhibit. Examples of most of these markings are very elusive and sought after by Specialists seeking Saudi Arabian forerunners.
IRAQ
Turkish Administration 1900-1917
The area of present-day Iraq (ancient Mesopotamia) was taken over by the Ottomans in 1534. Its capital,
Baghdad, was a cosmopolitan city and center of commerce for the fertile valley of the Tigris and Euphrates
Rivers. Iraq was well developed postally, with more than 40 offices being recorded. Shortly after Turkey entered
the war, the Indian Expeditionary Force landed from the Persian Gulf and occupied Basra. The first march
northward ended in a British defeat at Kut-al-Amara, but the forces were later reinforced and captured Baghdad
on 11 March 1917. After the defeat of the Turks, the area became a British mandate with Emir Faisal as regent.
| Bagdad (Baghdad)
SAAN LS So~d! :
Bakouba
IRAQ Turkish Administration
wr IK a ae | \\ clepoMyureinaas. ys mM peat Cartalina Postage Ay Sayre
‘
>
CorrespRe Levelewyr th
we Poste rta » Bartd Phas 5
a hoe ‘ vy . | Thy
ats t
8
L
4 , Kovresponden 7 ;
are Cte, oh ee bul, io . ;
Nn. ot oh ne CO Re Palen oad MR WT te - oe ey A! :
. OY oie” 2s) ag gJl
he i —/
LL JO 0551055 wal 2
° °
x : ey if CF fe ets or bah fhe.
cf
. o s
el ie ,
|
Bu
My *
SI M
LE NS
: ut
2 :
9
1900-1917
BAGHDAD DISTRICT
Afchar
2
be iS Azizie
y
Divanie
The three post offices shown above were located in the Baghdad Villayet in Central Iraq. Afchar is unlisted in C&W, while the postmarks of Azizie and Divanie are rated as "very rare."
IRAQ Turkish Administration
Filodja
\
L e e
RN Ne
a R
o n s
—% Aiwa gees” oie A 4 |
f 1900-1917
BaGHDaD DIstrRicr
Hadice
Fs Ghee ead REE Nanna aNSIgINNE, se appar yeES case wre Leu soy Se STS
Boe cape ae Trae mg hee sod ptd hg 6 td p tea
Ppa ieee, sect mer yereel, to Beate nett ones ah? LPO Et ed I ee epee tee i weer hae ta beta tn tart Ne Nee ra ee ryrtmone tog petontoh
fe eg ar Nm nd Bete O82 ed bar 88,
SA ese pore flag ebaeese regs,
Ce pert mre ine wba nadee etfs (Sat na Og tags | tan
met nten iat pe porn peta ta NEE eebrdiy der b: tere eee
itp te eo Vinten Mpigert Mater peo t Tee ets ligt t the net tt Mlet hee inige Tee eta ete that ttn tm e et ome LATTE SN 8 Bh 09 PR EE ee TE
pe rimner mitertiag eed ica erm nctee. * eet et tt tit heard NGS On re Meters tgp Ag ney ee
NE a Nt BE at mg 0 8 gr 1D gt Rn tare at FL INE eRe OO ah fog RE eat LPN t ome tart tag ASD Sear neo yr
Pe ep EC hap Het gp Ring erpmmady § 1 Ker ant Ti eae ES
go. © fat I NT Oto tata Poti tet tly Vee
seto we-5 3 Ps
[Ra es Dp ah cb tr ten Seine dt gp tng gh aha etant met ed 1A
ween ge tye Metpl Mabagt Vota inet tt ad
ee ages te age ag aE ee ea RE aed ee EE
Hanekin
_ Hadice is unlisted in C&W, while the postmarks of Filodja. Hille and Hit.are. rated as "very rare.”
Sa ma ra s
ty et er na
ln an en ic ce dl l
ay
IRAQ 1900-1917 Turkish Administration
AMERICAN CONSULAR SERVICE er ¢ Bacnnae DeTaGr
~ J i
ad 7 Y £ we a fs oe . ae 2 *
ees Kerye Bachi “ : Wwe > ‘ Yy ” ‘ yet XG (Bagdad)
Kerbela
Kiazimie
IRAQ 1900-1917
Turkish Administration
BAGHDAD DISTRICT
Kouffa (Nedjef)
Mendeli
OF these cancellations, Kouffa is unlisted in C&W while Mendeli is rated as "very rare."
IRAQ 1900-1917 Turkish Administration
ont boi| ec je se!
| ie. ¥ BAGHDAD DISTRICT
i
aaa ey
eNcar)
Remadie
The all-Arabic cancel of Nedjef is unlisted in C&W. The other three postmarks shown are all very elusive.
TRAQ Turkish Administration
Military Mail
1900-1917
Fieldpost Office
Cover to Istanbul from
45th Division HQ at on 6
2 \ Kut-al-Amara
, March 1916. The two- thirds negative. circular
sir marking of this unit is
one of three recorded.
w ww
~J : +
ft fo BS
cq.
He
Iraq Headquarters No.1
All-Arabic cds reading ox
"Irak Karargahi 1" on SS
special postal card pre- SS
censored for officers Ki UNIGN POSTALE UNIVERSSAS-
(i.e. star and crescent XH! TURGQUIE
overprint) sent on 10 Ke
March 1916 from 2 Baghdad via German Sz
naval P.O. on SMS Se
Loreley stationed at <>
Constantinople. es
6a oN
st a>
as 4
C Ake 2 UR Pee Hie
st FA ERTEE A La 4) Yee YS UE YEE YOY
Many Turkish troops, with their German advisors, were stationed in Iraq in order to resist the invasion by the IBF.
Kut-al-Amara was the scene of particularly heavy fighting, with the town changing hands several times in 1916-17.
IRAQ 1900-1918 Turkish Administration
MosuL & District
V I N K X e I
F S
I N e e
t t
w a
1 | j ;
* S
tt
N e
Moussoul (Mosul)
— = ow
: a s
gm t h n
<
Eseal Sie { 7m , & i : . Moogr
a fh Ee 1 afes: Nt eee ; apls’ -
g e
HO NE
A
| {
j i} v ‘ Ms » # ~%
| ia f av tay te os ats a. echo
Ie /3 23 = =e om 9 le-s
ere —_ . o¢ “ ae : f ( * + { ? - Bay “3 -
Moussoul all-Arabic cds ~ PIL IAS OuAF © leh o 5 -e41& on military cover from an . Co a o
7 w2 *. @ ‘ 5 a yy officer to Galata "eer, ee) ob sf), a; ;
.
C(stanbul) on 1 October
1918. Seal struck in purple is the cavalry division unit marking.
as s
Mosul was the principal commercial center of northern Iraq, which included a large ethnic Kurdish population. The postmarks shown are representative of those used during the relevant time period. si
IRAQ . 1900-1918 Turkish Administration
Mosut & DIstTrict
Altoun Keupru Erbil Kerkuk an
J, a l y
wh y C7 3
Jy
é ke
“a7
5 A 6. = ‘MO fog ecg : - Sad 7 — tee Z
BOL. Ung ae aseccze 5. Oe we oy. ERIE E, OAs po" Oa lt Ae ets ALE a
fe + ss Ti: 2 arts ALL SA Postal card from an oe eae officer with the First
: Expeditionary Force
a . 1 . Headquarters was sent a 3 +See oe to Istanbul. Circular ne mark is a unit EE: / handstamp of the HQ.
,.
Except for Mosul. all of the posumarks of northem Iraq are at Icast scarce. Rayat, Touz Hourmato and Zakho are
rated as “very rare" in Coles & Walker. The town of Kerkuk is the location of the largest oil field in Iraq.
IRAQ 1900-1917
Turkish Administration
J Ue Basra & DIsTRICT
CARTE POSTALE = 7
Bassora (Basra)
Amara
Abu-Sikhair vag! 0) ole
<5 : Rwiaas ee ae EE ,
ary
Except for Basra, examples of the postmarks used in southern Iraq seem to be unusually elusive. The registered
cover from Amara is extraordinary.
PALESTINE
Turkish Administration 1900-1917
The Ottomans came into possession of what was later to be Palestine in 1516. Because of its historical
significance and importance to three great religions: Christianity, Islam and Judaism, Jerusalem became a center
of attention for pilgrimages, tourism and commerce. Turkish rule lasted until the capture of the city by the
Egyptian Expeditionary Force under General Allenby on 9 December 1917. The 1918 campaign cleared the
northem part of Palestine, which then became a British mandate under the peace treaty.
Jerusalem
ee
13687 Jérusalem - Jardin de Gethsémani
Jerusalom - The Garden of Gethsemane
snggoma, ¢ B12gA7
. The bilingual cds in
ae double circle was the
a principal postmark
g . type used in the first
x ie ig decade of the 20th
3 Noo century.
8 one,
5 a. OS z eS z
KOO Z :
'@ ®
| JERUS :".NJO
ALEM . a e
Between 1911 and
1914, a new style of
octagonal postmark
was introduced and
widely used.
ae ee gle ame teete
As a center of tourism, a greater variety of postmarks was used in Jerusalem than in any other forerunner city.
Presented on the following pages are some of the 20th Century markings from J erusalem proper, then its branches
and postal agencies, followed by those of other post offices in the district.
PALESTINE 1900-1917 Turkish Administration
Jerusalem Quart. Israelite
Alfenhaus Moschab Sekenim”, Jerusalem, Palestina
OPES a | F Theis, a “a Nol 4 to. Hor - by) iy Wall oth, |
26
A R U E P O A T I E E
b g on e
: lees = ars | ; - | , ie Z 2aF- | res we - i. 1436 ;
oo
es UL banreriony
mand for postal service, the Jewish Quarter of Jerusalem had its own branch post office from Because of heavy de
eview, the first without date. 1895. with distinctive postmarks. Three major types were used in the period under
PALESTINE
1900-1917
Turkish Administration
ore re rere? CARTE POSTALE
e — Jog.
ve~ Anion Postal G9 mer
mee. OST CARD — W}
\ Jérusalen. Facade du Sc. Sepulcre Sor wint S
Church of the Sepuichre. \
g rabeskirche. iN
te lepycamirp. Brap Bock. Xp
NEA NS w\ Sh \
A
Jerusalem (Gare)
OE E:
Zaye e t y teh
eg
p r o y w r o e n e
E Postmark of the
of branch post office
located at the
Railway station
used on postcard
to Belgium.
B Q
e r
h r t e n F P
Suc. Poste N. d. de France *
Pad 7 | 4
A) GO) +» OLE P24 Me scrsipest.
B tO
Postmark of the postal Yoe/20701- we .
agency at the Basilica ve eae | ae Bx
of Our Lady of France. _ —
“wy | MA
f. OP Fas
ee B2tBbe
ce sratsafham i =.
: By
———
L. z C&W list similar oval postmarks for three postal agencies in Jerusalem: Grand Rue (partial strike only), Mahna
Juda and Notre Dame de France. The first and last of these are rated as exceedingly scarce.
PALESTINE 1900-1917 Turkish Administration
Meo-Charem
Registered cover sent on 25 May 1916 to the Aid Commission for
WA . ; 4 CG iY Ba: s Palestine in Vienna, eb fthonmmnertion S45 fr Gee Lain, Austria.
ry L E S P r e t e
AR
ra
} o a
4 q
. A ;
EN
ty Be
A A R
a g .
E A I
4
—_ =e z 4 % yp . . :
Srnec ne ‘ \ ttf . 3 ——————— er QA coe ALLEL Sse JERUSALEM Se /L£7 =.) am SE LOU <= - = es R Ne $323 | / mn . ~ ‘ NS Litbreccd# !
‘ . . J |
Souk-el-Attarin
There are two other Jerusalem branch post offices of Jewish interest: the first on Mea-Scherim Street in the northwest part of the city and the other at the Souk el Attarin (Spice Market). (The latter is ranked by C&W as one of the most élusive Ottoman postmarks of Palestine.)
PALESTINE
Turkish Administration
Union Postale U niverselle 4 :
CARTE POSTALE — POSTKARTE — POST CARD [ “ - ‘weal
——
Espace réservé 4 la correspondance pour
les pays seulement ou cela est admise .
PAD Oo. .
1900-1917
Jaffa-Jerusalem (TPO)
Adresse. =~
Weltpost-Verein
Union Postale Universelle Carte Postale — Postkarte.
The railway between Jaffa and J
shown above were introduced to
erusalem was 87 km. long and opened in 1892. The three different TPO markings
cancel mail on this line between 1905 and 1911.
PALESTINE Turkish Administration
Military Mail
“Andes Teezts & His, Beyraath — Jerusajem, ~
whe tse, e
a . es we Sgt “<7 ~~, Mt fel ps Meo
. Se bee POD wo SU
1900-1917
. Jerusalem 2
Negative seal of the 4th Army HQ in Jerusalem on postcard sent to Galata (Istanbul) in February 1915.
Blue seal reads
Field Inspection Directorate and is one of only three examples known.
Jerusalem 5
XQy Lis _ _-
vs cn Miner G Purple seal (negative rectangle) signifying Coated} er se military censorship at Jerusalem. A very
fee Nw ee cs al
scarce marking. ert : Lathe Fray’
6 to ° ~ L) I
Ae feeds!
he, ©
No. 822° Fr, Vester & Co. Jerusalem.
95 26
PALESTINE 1900-1917
Turkish Administration
Fy te . = eee : ~~3 . wees 2
: nie st | JERUSALEM DISTRICT
AFTER $ DAYS RETURN TO o oN '
i Oram z
ge wt et
ioe Bireh (Palestine)
Bethieem
Bon Samaritain
3 &
B e t l e h e m
et J e r u s a l e m ,
pram , i
Weltpost-Yerein
-Wnion Postale Universelle 7 or
ne, Carte Postale — Postkarte. poe z Yo g y [hi rm
Oe G Vaan 2
a. “ae, &
a c e r
we Pe:
cescssssseny Zo SAE CELE OIG.ooosce eee eee
~~ he
‘, “ay _
a \ t (
4. 0s Fc cpancnncit WY se. 3 a see * me:
z Les aN 2 _ ~N
~ ©. 4 : 7
Ak NS ye s de
ok GRADS Set MEU A AM i Xo a a Fy 20355
aa od
Postmarks from towns located in the district around Jerusalem are often grouped with those of Jerusalem proper.
The marking of Bireh is.one of the most elusive in Palestine. Bon Samantain, somewhat surprisingly, is found
relatively frequently -- usually on postcards mailed from the Inn of the Good Samana by tourists.
v
PALESTINE Turkish Administration
ee Bn
« ZL BELL i pte Weltpost-Verein
*~ _ Union Postale Universelle J ye Carte Postale — Postkarte. oR
1900-1917
JERUSALEM Districr
Jericho
Eriha (Jerusalem)
Ed it io n;
Fr .
Ve st er
& Co .
No .
23 8
Other towns in the Jerusalem District included Eriha (Jericho) and Halil-ul-Rahman (Hebron).
PALESTINE
Turkish Administration
Only the all-Arabic
postmark is recorded
for Afula, being used
for an 18-month period
in 1916-1917.
1900-1918
NORTHERN PALESTINE
Acre
The primary port of
northern Palestine
was Acre (Akkia).
Afula
PALESTINE 1900-1918 Turkish Administration
NORTHERN PALESTINE
Carte Do sta : FPO 27 fs ng Pei ie 3
Picture postcard mailed “ wi at | a8) from the FPO of the 27th ie cuts, des py a! VV Division on 20 May Hag, | 1915, when it was py, ‘Sus, | sossesecnaes located near Afula. “ oy! AL 0 AM gd J is. ‘ oUt
ea eenige, | OCH Sate } “7 1! a t Pere cae, | Tome ei, A ee tea 5 a
oo <A °
Se vA ae. Bs
4“ Ag eee
. 7
1 FPO 33
Card sent to the Greek 3 Orthodox Patriarch in
ae ce Rear ck eR ; ee Jerusalem from a Fev we FER medical officer on 29
in bla “Hine ey" Yer March 1915. Stamp is 0 A tae “de =" Mee Ry cancelled by a round
Vn e-47 “CO <a tees negative unit marking o~ TF Rs ge ee of the 8th Division
- ou % PE EMO SS. Medical HQ, while the OT) be Re thee = seal to the upper left is OP tate LL / ; s Bf re 4 yO agi the postmark of the
8,*. 7 Oy IO EEN eo FPO, then located at fw ee clog Me Leg tBey A fi la.
lsckrs Ko SD oye
PALESTINE
Turkish Administration
~
, | j “IL Oe Tp:
as |
™ .
1900-1918
NORTHERN PALESTINE
Acre
Cover from Acre to Beirut mailed on 5 July 1916.
Canceled with all-Arabic
postmark. The negative
oval seal is censor mark
applied in Acre.
FPO 2 hy [oe
ones
Cover was mailed to ° 7 a este ~ LW» ere sl _— A a)
San Gril) o ld Se eeTed Seeger FPO was then located — on ~ eo wee
ze Ta SSR unit marking of the
28th Division HQ. NAN aA
Hel Be oe. a x
re
iy) Maseali a ae }
(2 cer ree Piya oe
VP CRS NH,
eo Fs f22..0
As was the case at many other locations in the Empire, new Arabic
entered the war -- the use of French having become
in widespread use, especially on mail destined to foreign countries.)
; Ears etininecereomneninnerinenrn RE en ar + 2
politically incorrect. (However, bilingu -only postmarks were introduced after Turkey
al markings remained
1900-1918 Turkish Administration
PALESTINE
NORTHERN PALESTINE
Chefa Omer Bissan
| |
Rosch-Pinah
1, Chefa Omer and Rosch Pinah are all ranked as being among the scarcest examples of The postmarks of Bissan the Palestine forerunners.
PALESTINE 1900-1918
Turkish Administration
NORTHERN PALESTINE
Nazareth
nen CARTE POSTALE
Ce cété est exclusivement réservé a T’adresse
ale a a
i Feet OX... Bf tec Pier
Nasre
a
Le ba} Badeosrau usiygtsevis
pees
eC eHEy i ~ ~ del ie 4 Lo |
ana 8 : 13 GY. A pote ie m
oe , aD EB SS e ‘ -= Aadeird
A eS 7 . =m ,
1
to d uf
dt wr ot ty ,
at e
pi
Y
M a d e
fo r
P.
né ri f
P a c h a
St re et ,
A L E
Nazareth is a small community located about 20 miles southeast of Haifa,-noted as the place where Jesus lived.
PALESTINE
Turkish Administration
eines a (wH-
FPO 92
Cover mailed from an officer in the Yilderim (Lighming) Army Group, which was stationed in Nazareth, to Istanbul
on 25 June 1918.
Nazareth was the headquarters for the Yild leadership. It attempted unsuccessfull captured by the EEF on 20 September 1918.
y to defend Pale
1900-1918
NORTHERN PALESTINE
Nasra
AAMAS EP BO. ore, cements State
erim Group, which was a Turkish military unit under German Stine from the Egyptian Expeditionary Force. Nazareth was
1900-1918
PALESTINE
Turkish Administration
NORTHERN PALESTINE
Saffed
as h ‘ )
w e
e
a e
wre ee ee
Safed was a town in Upper Galilee. Its double-circle marking is shown above struck in violet on an inbound
postal card from Kolomea. The all-Arabic postmark below is rated as extremely scarce.
PALESTINE 1900-1918
Turkish Administration
NORTHERN PALESTINE
Samah
2 eS = : EE:
CORTE a DL engi tnta ambs* e
: -
+128 SD in ole” So
wel jl y> ae?
Srlade abl Sob
’ “7 , . 1” .
Le ey vino 222.ub A
2 Ds a
“, 4 wal, ~ “a [VY <—~ ==.
ett aaa > a we SS
= 4
a ete Sv tt
te 9980
a A...
eusgys ae eet algo ee
gagiel pay Vie 52
36 %
AV O
Samah was a small village located at the southern end of the Sea of Galilee. Its only postmark (all-Arabic) was unlisted in Pollack or C&W and is listed but not depicted in Steichele. This cds was used for only a few months. Marking on piece is dated 17 February 1918 and that on inbound money order form is dated 2 May 1918 -- four weeks after the previous latest recorded date. ,
PALESTINE 1900-1918
Turkish Administration
NORTHERN PALESTINE
Tiberiade (Tiberias)
Tiberias was located on the west side of the Sea of Galilee. The rectangular registration mark shown here on a
cover dated 27 June 1918 to Switzerland is of a special type not recorded in the literature.
PALESTINE Turkish Administration
1900-1918
Harra & Districr
4s - .
ee \
wk (' BTEg art en ges Haiffa (Caiffa) x} Carte postale. vec THe
as le D Nee
NG FE
As in the other main cities in the Empire, several different posumarks were used in Haifa, of which the above are representative examples.
PALESTINE 1900-1918
Turkish Administration
Harra & District
Beni-Saab Zamarin (Caiffa)
. wae A weee a heres
Other towns in the Haifa district with post offices were Beni-Saab (Tulkarm), Djenine (Jenin) and Zamarin. The
small cancel of Jenin and the cds of Zamanin are very elusive.
PALESTINE 1900-1918 Turkish Administration
Haira & Districr PET
TP ot a mS _ . fo: ~ ee . : Naplous (Nablus)
FPO 72
Inbound cover from Beirut to 16th Division fieldpost office on 31 August 1918 . This unit was then located near
Nablus.
PALESTINE Turkish Administration
Beni-Saab (Tulkarm)
FPO 48
Inbound folded letter to Tulkarm. The fieldpost
receiving mark is dated 12 June 1918. Red
censor label affixed over the top edge.
WTe4 Av
St d
b p
| SaaS :
1900-1918
Haira & DISTRICT
FPO 46
Postal card franked with a pair of the Beni-Saab provisionals and sent through the field post
office on 3 February 1918. (When the supply of 5 para stamps became exhausted, the Beni-Saab postmaster had 500 copies of the 10 para stamps of 1913 surcharged.)
PALESTINE 1900-1917 Turkish Administration
Jarra & District
apy . esas Jaffa (Tel Aviv) ® 2 CN wo os
78 at om Sip Be ob rb
Gy ty iat Bree ore er ts Pe ee ath " &: : Soe a a lege br Seapen Dee ~ Sox = = D3. “SR OSS
a
XA
y a s
BTR
AM IQ UT .. HU Y, 42 0
Postcard sent to Bosnia by member of the Austrian military mission serving as artillery instructor with the Turkish 4th Army.
M o c k s a ,
»J le 6a no nn ’,
-B O
ek scuncinen Gest. Ung. Geb. Hatib. Div.
I Expeditions kerps [¥ Kais. Ottomanische Armee
Tarkel
As in the other main Ottoman cities, several different postmarks were used in Jaffa, of which the above are representative examples.
PALESTINE
Turkish Administration
To commemorate the accession of Sultan Mehmet V Reshad on 27 April 1909, six current stamps were overprinted locally in Jaffa "Sultan Mehmet
Hamis 14 Nisan 1325." (Date based on the Hegiri calendar in use at the time in
Turkey.)
While this was not an officially authorized issue, examples were used on mail -- as in the case of the cover to Ourfa as shown.
Ammons at
f; 7 4 (ay 5S
1900-1917
JAFFA & DISTRICT
Jaffa (Shuk)
A branch office was in operation at the city’s main market, using the postmark shown adjacent up to October 1903.
PALESTINE 1900-1917 Turkish Administration
Jarra & Districr Pofttarte
Aioun-Cara
(Rishon le Zion)
Le\ At Kei BAS IS Seperate QU ae . Set tee tn, 9% yt
: MST AB vegies vewie stim
io UNION POSTALE We \ “aos EMPIRES TAS 5
< 7 | A 5 i ’
Wobnung ......! (Strage und Gausnummery
a o >
NE
\ E re s
3 ~ a a w
A A R
| |
| EA BE NE Y,
Petah-Tikwa (Jaffa) , od Q 2
ge | S- s | DRSRRIES IS By Sure 27 3 ‘ Ba Woy an e =p ;
— % a 4 9 Rehoboth (Jaffa) 52)
5 i ich Ge TTOLED ANeube, sy (xs cP. be
uy Nel: aa WMA NU 52
Hemingity, 12 er The three post offices shown above have several: aspects in common: they were the sites of Jewish settlements founded in the late 19th Century; they each used but a single postmark; and their markings all have the highest rating (extremely rare) in Coles & Walker? =.» «
PALESTINE 1900-1917
Turkish Administration
Jarra & DISTRICT
o
a '
Led (Ramle)
7 ee :
ers Ete cats? BS soy iy, ae f Hew! ais uw
&
Rt
yu r
ao s
E i
% << :
The two remaining offices in the Jaffa district were Led (Lod), located near the site of the international airport
today, and Remle, on the railway line between Jaffa and Jerusalem. The earlier (Remle-inscribed) postmark
disappeared around 1909 and-one from Led (Ramle) was pressed in service. with.the "Led!’ excised.
PALESTINE Turkish Administration
Military Mail
1900-1917
Jarra & Districr
FPO 53
Inbound cover sent from Damascus and arriving at this fieldpost office on 3 July 1917. FPO 53 was stationed at Vadi- i-Sarar, a junction town to the south of
Ramle on the railway between Jaffa and Jerusalem.
. ae BRE.)
: Mas... FPO 61 ek ea? A - Postcard sent on 18 a Ls
November 1918 from an ~f BES, officer in the 7th Division , stationed at Miilebbis, ns near Jaffa.
. . ; - - -4
a y a . My = —~ . a.2- 12. x ren»! dL menesncnome
~ at SNS 4 HF p24 7 5 - “\ 47, . 4.7 ws a . i poe! = oe a 8 ALE es oct :
i “n . . cy “ee 7 ae > Ud 5: wy < % 2 pen, & Bens 7 Pe = ae - : KS » “ C“ CM A ety? : 2) x ise e\ - re Lr 2 o es <
OOM LI, wa =- b Le s 7 & @ L
ey} ee _-¢
Fw? @s Lee, Ln oe Se ete “t CME te ES The aS Ye . 7 : . -
— oe ‘
As is the case with all military mail from Turkish forces, officers were required to pay normal postage while enlisted men had free franking. However, mail from these latter is rarely seen due to the low literacy rate.
PALESTINE 1900-1917
Turkish Administration
SOUTHERN PALESTINE
rt
vA
Bir-el-Sebee
(Beersheba)
al ge
N E S
)
L A N
en s
a 4 )
ae
’ 4
Beersheba all-Arabic
cancel on cover sent
by an officer to
Istanbul on 26 May
1917. The round
negative seal is the
unit marking of the
Cavalry 2nd Machine
Gun HQ (only three
examples recorded.) Beersheba is located about 30 miles southeast of Gaza at the beginning of the Negev Desert and has been
inhabited since Biblical times. Captured by the EEF on 31 October 1917.
PALESTINE Turkish Administration
At the end of October 1917 with the fall of the town to the EEF imminent, the usual postmark was lost and the supply of 5 para stamps ran out. As a result, a local issue was created when the postmaster surcharged for a small quantity of the 1916 issue with "5."
1900-1917
SOUTHERN PALESTINE
Gaza
PALESTINE
Turkish Administration
o f fa
H s
W h
‘A .
2. “a
A C s
P A C s
o é s
ot
~_~
“3 = ay Ne: ZAS
v x 3
<n
Ds A " —€
.4
t f L
pa. :
at
& y t e
tA
O e
itt RE
1900-1917
SOUTHERN PALESTINE
Gaza
4 & 4 3
In early November, a strange marking that resembled a
bird's head was applied to mail from Gaza, possibly as a
result of loss or destruction if the normal postmark. Two
examples are recorded as used on 5 to 7 November.
Gaza is the main town in southern Palestine. It was captured in the invasion by the EEF on 7 November 1917.
PALESTINE Turkish Administration
1900-1917
SOUTHERN PALESTINE
¢ i _. . Hafir
CARTE POSTALE
a Card postmarked at Hafir i on 27 May 1916 but not
ORRESPONCAS i apres posted. However, this i marking is very elusive i and only one commercial
~ i cover has been recorded Go i from this town.
f PAVED COR A FILS, Maisen d'Are. — REY ROUTH. i ‘
|
R ee | Re (LC eee | SA ws Laces We 4 Q - Khan-Younesse an oh = UNION ROsTabe (Palestine) BS ae EMM ee Bs ~ ell TE BO ya dad pee
Postal card sent 7 ' 3 from Khan Yunis to —_— Rosch Pinah on 10 a % 3 November 1914. 7 o>} C }
Pag 4 : ws
m3 a
ie a
mk,
Khan Yunis is located in the Gaza Swip, while Hafir is inland at the end of the Negev railway line. 6 aes Ornate A
PALESTINE 1900-1917
Turkish Administration
SOUTHERN PALESTINE
Military Mail
amis 4 .
ao . ! FPO 22
> - : “s Soy . aq
mead 5H (Z -
i i ie _ Cover postmarked at the
we me ge ge an FPO located at Gaza on
Sour sie os iw Wl 22 January 1917, the
: A a © Wn M4783 Cass BS earliest recorded date for
hu PAGS ban: igo Dogs! baat pie, ee es this postmark. Negative
Pep WO \y Xo a het ee ag 2 A eS seal is the unit marking of
fee tee! Le 4 Vb ote Ces the 3rd Division HQ.
‘ na
ee te
ce ee
ee r
bar
Cover used by an
officer from FPO 22 at Gaza to Seidi Chehr on 3 March
a e
n O
et a
ier e
s me s t e n t
Gaza was the scene of the heaviest fighting in Palestine. The first battle of Gaza took place on 26 March 1917 in
which the Turks successfully defended the city from the Britsh: a second artack on 19 April had a similar result.
After securing reinforcements, the EEF made a third effort later in the year, which resulted in a the capture of
Gaza on 7 November 1917 and the opening up of the invasion route into Central Palestine.
PALESTINE Turkish Administration
1900-1917
SOUTHERN PALESTINE
Military Mail
pa re
te or
‘
: BF
es
s ‘e
7 mY
n a
“ v 4
9 0 0
Postcard sent by an officer from this
FPO located at Khan Yunis on 30 November 1916.
i pics a5: i” 5°
TAGE nent fo
SST: BOTT, aes ‘t shel fot 7 | Ae p = tL ane-B3 ee 7 a .- Postcard postmarked at
ve al ae PFS g, TSA the FPO located at Gaza oe ss # a - ‘5 7 wo on 26 March 1917. . z , vere fe ae : ae ’ -. weet x ~ \ a 2 ; vi gt ‘ “A Sey a& wet Fate ob ed 2 Se ee Sty to Lt = . a 2 > > / . S oe _ ~ ee
ees : ‘ ‘ a a 2 Q a . : : * a Pr 1 Gen = aad at af. ee a _& f Sts) gy . 7 SE owocl Nw i \ s 76s NL Xo wage i E> %
Fi we ve . CO a el tf 2 o™ nae ok AS ae
—_— Ss
FPO 44
P / Se. . \ . * gee eee
Ae Sor t u ax ‘ x OE Oates, - ty cot a 2
WW Lb 5 Meee ae see ere = -
TRANSJORDAN
Turkish Administration 1900-1918
The Turks ruled what became Transjordan (under the British mandate following the end of the First World War)
as a part of the Province of Syria from the 16th Century. However, it was a true backwater of the Ottoman
Empire, populated primarily by Bedouin Arabs and possessing no natural resources, no port and no traditional
trade routes. Only after the construction of the Hedjaz Railway does.postal activity seem to:have taken root.
Mohan (Maan) : rey] we Turquie Le
Union postale universelle Example of postmark Carte postale. of Mohan used on
postcard on 9 February *
1907. Later, sometime
before 1914, the name oe oe . t . $° ony,
{ ‘ ;
was changed to Maan oe ely wan hn 3s wf ol a. Sb. dead...
(shown on next page). : . : - f
wee RS
Tafile
elie Tong mae
Nt tet PO rt Pera ot meres perne 2 aig nnemnne enemys etnmne se =
veg weer apyimirwrrmctimeen — re Ne Yap rodamye tints tte rong ts EArt es Ire, - ES es
r aed ie
seed eight ttenetinagsmngtiongtiitag &
aap ete triongt tote! Potet Moret) Fi
Postmark of Tafile, one
of the smallest towns in
the southem part of
Transjordan, used on
postal savings receipt
jieae fap FL aT tap) Vay Vn tet Pbag 1 tagt PEt gh
pi pet) een Hoke Hong tong Vote Tike ote beret oireredir! Aged pre tert tran e pier perce FR
Sele 4 reclene recs rare rinne (tap t Comat I ots)
- ef . gee’ 4
- PAG et ol Mot g hiatal gt Nene gt ata) t Penta Pm hae 1h tt em marr ree 5
z SLR amaeemperae te for 100 piasters dated Z Ceccapmrc recent anat gee staner erate 13 November 1913. Lene rapt ate tag Vet g ah at aR Feohagt Ate gg Pena t tt tart ata bo ant 1
tgs reeporiea kor tp: a2 Cp dye FF te re aan
—_, wr PEt ata Vet gt ots Start Fong a? ov tenet
St Peta Peed Paget Fm a art tat PRGA Re pt akg th hg Hebel rete! See ORD ap IG DVO Gf Hea taged Og SIO OPE A ard nt
ee et a I EI RE OL TG HORE PEI OR St ILO rong!
—<—<—= a = \
TRANSJORDAN Turkish Administration
Adjiloun
Jah! Jbl ah jee Baby
Maan
ee ares: nits BSH “TS a
1900-1918
Amman (Salt)
-?
Matar tet pP ty
ai} ttn)
SOV Agni goin : - ew
(aie EST Og! lei esa
ke
Altogether, postmarks between 1900 and 1918 have been reported from seven different locations in Transjordan, all of which are in the exhibit. With the exception of Salt, examples range from very scarce to one of a kind.
TRANSJORDAN
Turkish Administration
Military Mail
1900-1918
FPO 43
Stationery envelope sent in September 1918 by a member of the 153rd
Regiment, 53rd Division, 8th Army Corps at Salt. Addressed to FPO 72,
located in the Jaffa area of
Palestine. The only example of the FPO 43
cancellation used as a
despatch mark in Jordan.
Military postcard mailed in *
September 1918 by a |
member of the 146th
Regiment, 4th Army, which -_ . .
was then stationed in Salt, “¥ .» ah
to Beylerbey (Istanbul). ' as eet -
Only recorded example of
the negative FPO 69
eb cl-y 7% / as 04.2. oy phe
y wi t
cancellation. FPO 43 cds
used as a transit marking.
ae Sew vm emt ene ene ee rm ee
The town of Salt is located midway between Amman and the River Jordan. It was the only center of military
activity in the area that subsequently became Transj
examples are the only ones known to the exhibitor.
ordan. However, military mail is very scarce, and the above
SYRIA
Turkish Administration 1900-1918
The Province of Syria (which also included Lebanon and Palestine) was annexed to the Ottoman Empire in 1516 by Sultan Selim I. After the successful Arab uprising in Hedjaz during World War I, Emir Faisal was in a position to move his forces northward, reaching Damascus at the end of 1918. However, in the peace negouations, the great powers decided to establish a French mandate over Syria, with Faisal being made regenr (later king) of Iraq.
og
PoE > ; fe & Z we
; i e& im : : § 5° = : |S = ! a Wig 33 7. 2 ‘ a =e . i - :é = ~| 3 =. iS
a pS ? : $ ie ; od me ob = : , REE cat = FIs Bt Ug
e rj) Ss We SS f jaa ae bY z : = “i Lg FF bf “ be RE Bo = iat — i = < a = ' FR ery i s|/8 €8 al ne ’
ste me 2 *SSeneeee*® ; i) os > | ‘ ; eZTMNs = t Be 3 = ; : os me = la : as ~ = { g, .
ff 3 z ee
3 : S2se 4 , : ee55 4
Sip eElslis Luwacks 2h; : . ma . : ~ = =» Fao S285) 28EF) OM ® ey & ree A Mfepiit = gs 6 Si geils es
: B28 SS 222/238 ay te “ Ks : , : Ss OB 25 535 (Gp 52 S7y ees
2 5 x Aw SAW! _ eT “ uv 2 ri see Roo vsnemunnserncnsetes Lr iss = 1 2 sSFze “ © w/a : : 2S!
« § 5 Q ¢ es? _— sy
'. RP BIS £es - Neee | 8 B22 a => SQz= 5 |& 2° 3.6 2 (3 iges
a= 2 mi ; 2 {& S2Ezl ¢ = Q oy o =
alm. co hw cette tne ee scant aes amen ae tees cer ece eee ccaeceeeseeerenees . a v < as SS iOtragfe und Hausnummers ©
é SC Taye t
- ISS F36 (17) La) A variety of postmarks was employed in the Damascus post offices, of which those shown above are representative.
SYRIA 1900-1918
Turkish Administration
Ske ewer m~- - No eNe cme
BN “4 Damas BRANCHES
wee ‘ ~~ Seems ae,
KHALIL JEAN CHANAGE DAMAS, syne
Babtoma (Damas)
SURAls,
Hamidie (Damas)
Turquie Union Postaite Universelle
Carte postale
Poe ucaioso ge eee R ES. Lee AE NESS SERN HMR
Pe rr e e
Bezorye(Damas)
Several branch offices operated under the jurisdiction of the Damascus post office. Three examples are shown.
SYRIA
1900-1918 Turkish Administration
nc ee 2 . _ 2 woe ™. =
ZESTHICKE & . “25 as _Halep (Aleppo)
f
-£
OE d
Kaper ‘ache AC
ss (
: }
Aleppo was the second most important city in Syria and the commercial center for the northem part of the province. Several types of postmarks were used there, including ones interchanging the spelling between "Alep” and "Halep.”
SYRIA
Turkish Administration
- 4
2
}
(E
éje SIRS ANAS eo
¢
= a2 ftal cle
we SWLNES pS
We tt BL Lats AOL Griezr2al
A gg Caf 2 4a7 ~ ~bQ 2 AATA—
C Laue Lv i
1900-1918
HALEP BRANCHES
Posta Shoubesi 311
Special oval branch marking used only in Syma.
° nee 2TH
2 ote
Aas ENING
“Se
Mw D8 os
Several branch offic es operated under the jurisdiction of the Aleppo post office. Three ex
Haleb (Souk-el-Habil)
amples are shown above.
SYRIA 1900-1918 Turkish Administration
Military Mail
FPO nn
5
2 Postal card from the yh fieldpost office at \N Aleppo to Istanbul
ak
lo
ATTgaqyy- ya i
. - 7
; @ e@ je° :& ve EET, Ser YF iF ay =
Emil Christian . Oberveterinar a. D. pract, Tierarzt. .
e d
3
Her }
«! e g o
s ® a
( t } t . t '
iH *
Ya
oo
thee
b D o a r
" 4
beeen h e
he a l e e hs
e te
i an ma
tte
nes a h en b c
Damas 1
Cover sent by a major in the veterinary corps of the German military mission in Damascus to Berlin on 23 May 1916. Negative seal is censor mark of the 4th Anny.
£4 ) M o v e r . ~ —
os
a Pee ee
Damascus was the rear headquarters for the Turkish military (and their German advisors) that provided logistical support for the troops fighting in Palestine and thé Sinai.
SYRIA + 1900-1918
Turkish Administration
Banias
apt ng tat lag A
aE on BI SN ite Nptsigrimieds
Chekhmeskin
Ppnetgtomng ttl “tu.
od.
Pda te
aft Se A Gh vot 04 imcnoe tiene hang onal tata tat Tatas ater oo
- secsoncaeptl edna ata eta Play Vota Loa PE tar tt BY Lite ttmlettlet!™
Taraquie
CaisfBoxpale P
5 Brte oe \¥o AN
\
Syria had more than 40 post offices in the relevant period. Except for the larger trading centers, the postmarks of
these rate from scarce to very rare. This latter description applies to.all. of those shown.on this page.
k m
nt im na ne ni ne mi in ce me en es es te se h
SYRIA 1900-1918 Turkish Administration
Djisrichouour
cee pepe ssc
Tag ITTY omer me ree
er SACD O55 33
pow nS eae engin A
1 Elboukemal
ro \
\ ¥ ‘UNION POSTALE UNIVERSELLE
EMPIRE E OTTOMAN
; ; CARTE PO POSTALE - | - 7 Mepult Abin fag nbiix mabe a ae ot rLooftbe pe
ef (e es :
aI
MS S
Se
y
E T
A D R E S S E
D E 3 >
= et
2 3 : } 2 * é t x - s =
3 fwbee? of cee th ios a = 7 x 2 aoe
<
au
a z
TUN RL ERR ARLE
N O M
Kilis Kneitra
VORP SN VEL EL Cea SEEN wns
o oabead sh SUaal abl
Kilis is unlisted in C&W. The other postmarks shown here are rated “rare” or higher.
1900-1918 SYRIA Turkish Administration
Lattaquie (Latakia)
Maara
tp o s o yy
OP gt a
O E
| F a e
Peo =
3
Q O
Latakia was the primary port of Syria on the Mediterranean Sea. Thus, commercial mail is obtainable. Harim and
Maara are rated "very rare” by C&W.
SYRIA 1900-1918 Turkish Administration
Hama
Homs
ses ; )
1
& ek, Ne, o
Hama and Homs were secondary cities located along the main north-south highw ay from Aleppo to Damascus. They used several different types of posumarks during the early 20th Century, of whi ch the above are representative.
1900-1918 SYRIA Turkish Administration
Ash. Hasbaya
X
Mercere AS le tn hat ee eee ete am
Examples of covers from smaller Syrian towns. Hasbaya is not recorded in C&W.
SYRIA
Turkish Administration
ee areal Cir Ree
Ras-el-Ain
Additional examples of postmarks from smaller Syrian towns. All rated "rare" or higher. by C&W.
1900-1918
SYRIA 1900-1918
Turkish Administration
ene errr ens cy om Ne Ng ES Ne OT OMS = lpm 9
<= —. 7 "} rome <<
cat ~ roo S -e a wf 05K \e aes x ) «—) an ik SH = - \n and Aa 2d) s Safita
Salhad ype
- =— fi
beta Ae a atl Wiss 2S ee CL ;
(be aN N POSTALE UNIVERSE EMPIRE OTTOMAN
CARTE POSTALE —
: ad UNTIL
STINT. ¢ 13
A D R E R H E
b h :
2 a
c L
seairimassnle tte
SYRIA 1900-1918 Turkish Administration
Yebroud
These postmarks are all rated "very rare" or higher by Coles & Walker.
SYRIA 1900-1918
Turkish Administration
oe | _ ALEXANDRETTE
oo DistTRictT
e ; An,
pies wb ans aS,
Alexandrette
Antakie (Antioch)
Because this district is Turkish today, it is sometimes overlooked as a forerunner area: However, it was transferred
to Syria following Worid War I until becoming an autonomous province in 1938. Then, under the name of Hatay, it
was restored to Turkey in 1939.
LEBANON
Turkish Administration 1900-1918
The area that is now Lebanon was annexed by the Ottomans in 1516. The capital, Beirut, was a cosmopolitan city and center of commerce for the region over many years. It also attracted tourists (as did the Roman nmuins at Baalbek). The interior region was unusually fertile for the Middle East, especially the Bekaa Valley. For all of these reasons, Lebanon was well developed postally, with more than 80 post offices having been recorded, plus some branches. After the defeat of the Turks, the area became a French mandate with the name of Grand Liban (Greater Lebanon), which reflected the boundanes being drawn in a manner that included Moslem and Druze-
populated areas as well as the core Christian districts, thus setting the stage for future conflict.
Beyrouth (Beirut)
Toa 1 ‘
teen i 4 : i , Sa
lle’ i BEYROUTH | ae i ihi
PE Ne garg a
A wide variety of postmarks was employed in the Beirut post offices, of which those shown above are typical.
LEBANON 1900-1918 Turkish Administration
Beyrouth (Gare)
‘ nant, 3 Oy TAG Rd MAST A : Ss
vos & UA plossnvononse ifn .
pu muss MOVAL HONGROIS DE COYIMAHON foe, 7 { -
‘. oe ee ee
Beyrouth (Quais)
Carte postale — Post card — Postkarte — Correspondenzkarte
fs i S due i
ao g th
Huriette Bagtchesi « ! , (Beyrouth) 2) A aay 8 “ ta. :
senseeenseeensnse Base oeercsnag tiie : ads Oe ON pe ce Song AB Ia asteee
LEED ALO e\
10-B-119T¥-e-Ta|
xs Pe as
9 ope g ye
BST
As an important commercial and tourism center, Beirut had a number of branch offices to meet the needs of its
postal customers, including in the railway station and at the docks as shown above. The Hurictte Bagtchesi
marking was located in Freedom Gardens, a tourist attracuon.
Cartolina postale —Dopisnice— Levelezi-Lap — Karta kerespondencyjna— Brief kaart a
Union postale universeile — Weltpostverein — Unione postale universale ;
pen, =
“s,
LEBANON 1900-1918 Turkish Administration
Sem ne een ees - on Ee,
B. AUDI & C . Be VROUTR
{syrfe) we
a Branch Offices
f t a
c t S e a s e s
I AME s SMI 2 H PES whe .
A ceuasié POST.
ATTARIN
OL, Lan vad See LE
CARTE POSTAL
NA T E )
x we -arfh-- pe
Mec. ¥ PF ek. yee
fr pee, pode a pecrve tle,
yous ot ale, bees t
7 oes tae Fertinsin dawnt” “7 en gis
yo ye are tt av fe : Mon
wi c te eee ese de Bet ece
a
Coote. jee. ut C= pavetels vee
a - i ata wep x Lead weed. EE eeeete | teste
gy 2 oo gy c hen eorevetle, Le Bs fda ve fie f
Co et en Lerman ten ne veel tartoe ( ZL ial ve | ay bed jeerery —__ ats ssmen Nes
ug ptmphn in Beg cen A te 1h. C4 eprerled
Of all the Ottoman termitories, Lebanon had its own distinctive series of markings for branch post offices. These undated.ovals had office numbers and were inscribed "Succursale (branch) Poste” and on a second line showed the name of the town or merely "Liban." Examples shown are #2 (Beirut), #5 (Beit Chebab), #14 (Attarin) and #22 (Sofar). The.markings for #5 and 22 are rated as "very rare" by Coles & Walker.
1900-1918 LEBANON Turkish Administration
oe ee
1 —_—se
Aita-el-Fuhar (Bekaa)
p e r e n n e
o t
Alie (Liban)
27-9-15¢T1-¥-\4
US
Baabda
Beiteddine
“e y K o r z p r
Betrone
$3 3 Bi oR RE S
OR E
A selection of postmarks from some of the smaller offices in Lebanon. Baabda is rated as "very rare," while
Betrone is unlisted in Coles & Walker.
LEBANON 1900-1918 Turkish Administration
[ORM ee -_——
Baabdate (Liban)
‘ Py
5
2 =
Baakiline
RETURN IN 10 DAYS -O
M. BADDOUR DEALER IN
SENERAL MERCHANDISE
ee Mo.
I Be Be S.A. dined angst oh
gS Le
Baalbek ) | 5 :
-Dr. P. Galewsky eee (Ss Hiatt sae ; . eta
f \
o c ee
ge nn
el
aEseoute soteeea Wey?
LEBANON 1900-1918
Turkish Administration
Behamdoun (Liban)
Bihanness
2 * if . Lor pad ' pe : At oy cei i oe Ly f LL. * ‘ yt
ad a“ us f
AEA 1A E BAAN GIS LG) ye ‘ Vee
‘ p -
> ee a at A ne B wet ,
Broumana (Liban)
The postmark of Behamdoun shown above is a special type (recorded for a dozen different towns used it) that was
created only for Lebanon, perhaps in reflection of the high percentage of Christians in the population.
LEBANON 1900-1918 Turkish Administration
Djedeidet el Matin
Djezzine (Liban)
These two covers originated in small villages whose markings are rated as "very rare” in the C&W handbook.
LEBANON 1900-1918
Turkish Administration
Djounieh
ns OO iON, --—---GNION POSTALE UMNIVERSELLE
Pa pi er
Gu il le ms uo t
eee
E aneing fora catlhay 5 Z Menace we St et PeAda
i - r : ff - i 4 iA . ? 4
ey ‘Se durin oe nn aanediate Atep. ng . . at =
yi- ‘ i % le ye lh * wa Ma cag ben AA hoe,
tae 7 ry es : ay, ~ , i =F. :
Big ange. OQ... Lj en fe th | Te ; 7 7
Aunihct. \ ert ~ Barire | = : == =
; qt
Douma (Duma) is a very small village in north central Lebanon. Shown here is the discovery copy of this hitherto
unrecorded postmark dated 16 January 1917.
LEBANON 1900-1918 Turkish Administration
Karnail (Djedeidet ul Matin)
Hos-el-Zerana Turquie Union Postale Universelle
Carte postile
. ers ics ye tag mong me
zo
Kiar Debian (Liban)
a Mods vee : es AS, PERE tn, es wit ce eT er lode ne Ste
Hos-el-Zerana and Kosba are listed in C&W among towns likely to have had post offices but with no markings recorded. The Kiar Debian oval is not listed at all, but the Djounie transit mark is a variation used in Djounieh.
1900-1918
Merdjaoun
Rachia
A Yes <= we ye uy
30 \
istration
LEBANON
Turkish Admin
ear
oe pee =:
S s
Ye 2)
| 4
ma Vi °
‘ = ,
.
tN y
Ny ,
ae re
a
vw
= z
14
LEBANON
Turkish Administration
André Terzis & Fils, Bsyrouth — Jerusalem.
Savour (Tyre)
ASE ee Tea te . tee ne é a Se aig oi
1900-1918
Roumye (Liban)
Hevisie \nr-<¢-y
4 S
Com ye we
Saida (Sidon)
/ S o t 4
d t
ie
a
bla Lo t s
1900-1918 LEBANON
Turkish Administration
Sofar
Tannourin (Liban)
—
. | -. bs lee sve .
p r
» Ly
1
S e A w a y
B S N
oe Ao sk
\
Tripoli Syrie (Echelle)
Zakhle
wo fey a
+ targes ote ote copa,
G333 13 . spe: acer one ett tet tat yee <r s
wf ae Tt
LEBANON 1900-1918 Turkish Administration
Military Mail
Fieldpost card sent on 8 January 1918 by a soldier with the 13th Warehouse Regiment, a part of the Supply Corps serving the front in Palestine, then located at Baalbek.
Lebanon served as a rear area in relation to the hostilities in World War I, and the armistice was in effect by the time Allied troops arrived there from Palestine. Thus, military mail is uncommon and what does exist reflects the logistical significance of the area.
YEMEN
Turkish Administration 1900-1918
The final period of Turkish rule in Yemen lasted from 1871 to 1918, when it became independent following the
end of the First World War.
Hodeida
Examples of larger postmarks used in Hodeida (1905, 1913) showing both types of
spelling, ie. Hudeida and Hodeida.
Examples of smaller postmarks. Cover was sent to Austria from Hodeida in February 1911 but was put on board a southbound ship and traveled via Port Taufia, Egypt.
As the main port on the Red Sea, Hodeida was the primary access point to the rest of the world and, thus, the
commercial center of the province. While most mail from Yemen originated in Hodeida, there were several
different postmarks in use (apparently interchangeably) after 1900, varying in size and the spelling of the name.
1900-1918 YEMEN
Turkish Administration
Beit-ul-Fakih
Registered cover sent on 21 October 1911 from this small village located about 20 miles inland from Hodeida. This postmark is previously unrecorded.
ao
Main Dascai 2 ewversele
Camaran
Picture postcard from Camaran Island in
the Red Sea sent to
France on 20 August 1913. Lp
BY
ae My CARTE POSTALE
ge Ga eeiDh et
Picture postcard sent to England on 19 October
ee se acaiad os 1914, shortly before Turkey entered the war on 2 November.
Salif (Yemen)
N
O U R )
O U T
TA LL
, pa
va ys
o
NE N
R +
iN
RX
‘3 GENERAL VIEW OF THE 5 PYRAMIDS m, ee - . = = * = Ta ee ne ee ee a
Covers used from Yemeni towns other than Hodeida, as in the cases shown above, are very elusive and avidly sought by Ottoman collectors as well as specialists in the country seeking forerunner usages.
YEMEN 1900-1918 Turkish Administration
Beit Berich Lahie Menahe
Moka (Mocha) Cover from Moka to Paris via Suez in 1903. (The name of this. town, which
was located in a
key coffee-growing area, was the ongin of the nickname for the beverage.)
Altogether, postmarks from 1900-1918 have been reported from 17 locations in Yemen. With the exception of
Hodeida and Sanaa, these markings range from scarce to one of a kind.
YEMEN 1900-1918 Turkish Administration
Souk-ul-Hamiss Taiz Zeidie
p i t t a
t i t e e
i t t h e
AREAS TEMPORARILY OCCUPIED DURING WORLD WAR I
ADEN 1915-1918
Turkish Occupation
At the outbreak of the war, Turkey maintained garrison troops in Yemen. A plan was devised to use a portion of
these forces, supplemented by local Moslem irregulars, to attack the Aden Protectorate. This threat to the port
facilities at Aden was thwarted by the deployment of a contingent of British troops from India, leading to a
stalemate under which the Turks remained in occupation of an area in the north of the Protectorate for the
balance of the war but were unable to cause further trouble.
Lahej
feos Ya
In the absence of any standard postal supplies being made available by the Turkish military authorities, a negative
seal was improvised as a franking postmark and used at Lahe) (located roughly halfway between the Yemeni
border and the port of Aden) during the occupation period.
The Coles & Walker and Passer handbooks both provide illustrations of this controversial marking but do not give
additional details as to its use.
EGYPT
Turkish Occupation 1915-1916
One of the war objectives of the Ottoman government was to drive the British from the Suez Canal and occupy Egypt. To this end, an expeditionary force was organized and started west from Beersheba on 15 January 1915, crossing the Sinai Peninsula and reaching the banks of the canal between Lake Timsah and the Great Bitter Lake at the end of the month. (Two companies of the 25th Division actually managed to cross the canal on the night of 2/3 February.) However, the logistics to resupply the troops were not in place, and they were forced to withdraw. A second and better prepared assault on the canal was mounted in 1916, but the results were the same as, in the meantime, the British and Imperial (mostly Anzac) forces had been reinforced and were able to both halt the Turks and, in time, go on the attack, driving the Ottoman troops out of the Sinai and entering Palestine.
Suez Canal Ottoman Red Cross ©
Special marking of Red Cross” post office on cover dated 3
February 1915 to Amiassia.
‘ 2 a Ve e!
€ &
L E T S
gt
a g m e g e a n
of
W V E X P F O I T C U R
H O M
CN PD I
o A
Registered postcard sent by an Austro- Hungarian artillery officer from El Arich to Hungary on 4 July 1916. (Date is four weeks prior to the earliest recorded date for Ottoman FPO 46 in the literature.)
a
C I N O I C A T I O N
F A C U L E A T I W E D
YT ae a cet empress ro coer et ee ee a
TTR n° 34
fee e+
EGYPT 1914-1915 Turkish Occupation
EI Arich
The first temporary postmark for El
oT Arich had a fixed \ ; year date of 1914
* et af | (1330 in Turkish) /™ ats ; Three examples are
! % can ee ‘recorded.
© A,
. Correspondance aw XH ng 5, A pirpie _
: ot ice oe 7 ort | : ; Oo WaINY wisais |S
Is - XN : ; : a"
ant SAIS pia Sx yi ow
Standard bilingual cds was introduced for El Arich during 1915. Only three covers and a few pieces are recorded.
Ibin
The only other PO to operate in the Sinai (per C&W addendum) was at
Tbin, which was the HQ of a German force under Kress
von Kressenstein.
One of the first objectives of the Turks was the capture of El Arich, the principal town in the Sinai Peninsula.
This was accomplished at the end of October 1914. The town remained in Ottoman control until early 1916 when
the Egyptian Expeditionary Force was able to clear the Sinai.
1915-1916 EGYPT Turkish Occupation
Bir ul Mezar Birin Bir ul Abid
Mudeyle Wadi Sherif Wardi
A curious aspect about the Sinai was the preparation of postmarks for every conceivable crossroads in the Peninsula, inhabited or not -- presumably a political decision made by someone far from the scene. Devices are known (including some negative seals) from about 30 different locations, mostly struck on Turkish stamps on pieces. A selection of such pieces is shown here for their interest as souvenirs of the Sinai campaign.
PERSIA
Turkish Occupation 1916-1917.
The Turkish General Staff and its German advisors conceived the idea of a thrust into Persia toward India as
likely to cause the Allies to divert forces from other fronts. In August 1916, the 13th Army Corps crossed the
frontier and soon occupied several cities, including Hamadan, Kasr Chirine and Kirmanchah. However, in
March 1917 the expedition was terminated due to concems that the Turkish forces would be cut off by Russian
and British troops advancing from the North and South, respectively.
“ee petty Inve a” “Bs Postmark of Fieldpost ie k Lins bas ot | Office Hamadan of
| picture postcard of Persian Azerbaijan to Istanbul in November 1916. This is the only recorded example of use from the Ottoman military post office in
Mixed franking on
pieces with Persian postmarks from Kasr Chirine and
Kirmanchah dated
September 1916.
These are believed
to have come from covers mailed by Turkish officers,
who did not enjoy the free franking of enlisted men.
Postal evidence of the Ottoman presence in Persia is limited, consisting of the above postcard from Hamadan,
some pieces from Kasr Chirine and Kirmanchah and a dozen examples of civil mail with Turkish censorship.
PERSIA Turkish Occupation
1 (e re s
e t e
2 “
t h e “
i)
oo
N o m
et ad re ss e
de
l’ ex pé di te ur .
(I nd ic at io n
fa cu lt at iv e. )
CARTE POSTALE DE PERSE
Ce cdlé est exclusivement résereé & adresse.
Cover sent from Kirmanchah in February 1917 with set of provisional overprints on Persian stamps. The same censorship combination applied, but the markings are
in black.
1916-1917
Persian postal card sent from Kirmanchah
to Hamadan in October 1916. It was censored in yiolet by both the Persian (circular seal) and
Turkish authorities
(rectangular box).
The Ottomans viewed their position in Persia as administrators rather than as an occupying power. Thus, their postal authorities did not function in the territory. However, when certain values ran out of stock in January 1917, the Persian postmaster of Hamadan arranged for overprints of 12 and 24 chahis to fill the need for these denominations; only 500 of the 12 ch. and 200 of the 24 ch. were sold. Collectors generally regard these stamps as having been issued under Turkish occupation. Covers showing their use are particularly elusive.
PERSIA 1918 Turkish Occupation
Cover sent from Bonab to
Tauris in September 1918 with small negative seal with star and crescent. Text inside
reads “has been Censored.”
Under the Treaty of Brest Litovsk, the Russians were required to withdraw their military forces from all occupied
territory, including northern Persia. This presented a new opportunity for Turkish incursion. Thus, their troops
moved into Persian Azerbaijan and occupied Tauris (Tabriz) in mid-1918. Following the Armistice of Mudros on
30 October 1918, the Turks were forced to withdraw once again.
The only philatelic record of these events is a handful of covers with Ottoman military censorship markings.
ROMANIA
Turkish Occupation 1916-1918
. Sensing an opportunity to enhance their territory at the expense of Austria-Hungary, the Romanians entered the war on the side of the Allies on 22 August 1916. However, Germany and Bulgaria came to the aid of the Austrians and soon overran most of southern Romania, including the capture of Bucharest on 6 December 1916. All of the Central Powers, including Turkey, participated in the administration of the occupied territory.
peor
Absender: ~ Fatadé: -
** Odesilatel Nadawoa: -
< Mittente: Podtijatelj: ~Podlijad: =
Feldpostkarte. : ¢
Postmark of Turkish
i ve a adhe Railway Station HQ flog ip tf. 4 cn eth Cone in Bucharest. Not hifi ae. ea previously recorded in As,
the literature.
Negative Turkish postmark reading “Bucharest 1" with additional marking of FPO 65.
me ee eg
Most of the Turkish forces were located in Bucharest (FPO 65) but small:contingents were stationed at Braila (FPO 57) and at Constanta in the Dobrudja.
ROMANIA 1916-1918 Turkish Occupation
ry
y: Yo
se g
— x . -
T r e ,
a e
co k
w a
fu ,
‘=
R R
Three different types of Turkish fieldpost markings used in Bucharest, including one for parcels. Two of these include the FPO number designation 65.
Address card with marking "Bucharest Parcel/Money Order Center" for package sent October 1917.
This postmark not previously recorded.
The Ottoman troops in Romania essentially served as representatives of Turkey as a member of the Central
Powers rather than a serious occupation force. As a result, actual soldiers’ mail is quite elusive. Most items with
Turkish FPO markings represent souvenir mail sent home by philatelically-inclined Austrian and German troops.
ROMANIA 1916-1918 Turkish Occupation
Special imprinted Turkish fieldpost card used from a soldier in
Braila in November i Vi oat. ie 1916. Postmark is : wth he 9 6 et tethers .. illegible as a result of .¢ ye ly wit ts am “ 2 5 overstrike.
ep ,2? ae oe ge ® a7 ° : Lf : te SA a sa t canennomnst sacsptstons KA ELI API AEN Noe 1 Bo tol Fonnrnn |
‘ Sassari
ws &
Address card with
postmark of FPO 57 for package sent April 1918 by a member of the 6th Division.
ARS a I A A SE ss WAsa ee ry gt Sap TP eae
Examples of Turkish military mail used from locations other than Bucharest are most unusual.
GEORGIA
Turkish Occupation 1918
At the time of the Bolshevik Revolution in November 1917, Russian forces occupied large portions of Anatolia
extending 200 miles westward from the prewar boundary. However, under the Treaty of Brest Litovsk, they
were required to evacuate Turkish territory and, in addition, cede the districts of Batum, Ardahan and Kars to
Turkey. As a result, Ottoman troops moved forward into these new areas and captured Batum on 15 April 1918.
(After the Armistice, British forces arrived from Constantinople to take over the city on 22 December.)
Batum
Postmark of Batum 1 on cover mailed by an officer in the 13th Caucasian Division to Aleppo in September
1918.
f a T
T 3 k ,
Tchourouk-Sou
The postmark of this small town located between Batum and Tiflis, on piece of a postal money order. This is one of only five reported pieces showing this postmark.
—— paras “tah
se ct - eee
Postal evidence of the Ottoman presence in Georgia is very limited, consisting of a few pieces from Tchourouk-
Sou and a handful of items from Batum.
GEORGIA 1918
Turkish Occupation
Batum 8
* z
1:
TW ereertsa.9 ES asa-5
An unusual philatelic aspect of the occupation of Georgia was the preparation of postmarks for actual or potential branch offices in Batum. Shown above are examples up to number 8 struck on Turkish stamps glued to pieces. (Batum 6,and 8 pieces ex Oktay.) There is speculation that the numbers actually mun as high as 10 or 12, but Coles & Walker state that there is no evidence that any numbers above 3 passed through the post. In fact, this exhibitor is aware of only three covers from Batum, all with the code | postmark, as in the example on the previous page.
ARMENIA
Turkish Occupation 1918
As the Russians withdrew from northeastem Anatolia, the Ottoman forces advanced into Russian Armenia,
capturing Ardahan on 19 March and Kars on 25 April 1918, towns which had been lost by the Turks following
the 1877-78 war with Russia. Alexandropol (called Gumru by the Turks, Leninakan by the Soviets and now
Giumri by the Armenians) was taken on 15 May. With the Bolshevik Regime being out of favor with the Allies,
the Turks were eventually permitted to retain Ardahan and Kars in the peace settlement.
FPO 30
Postmark of Fieldpost Office 30 in Giumri on cover sent to Kirkuk. The negative censor marking is of the Chief Surgeon of the 21st Caucasian Mobiie Hospital. This is the only recorded cover from
Giumri.
’ Postal evidence of the wartime Ottoman presence in Armenia is very limited, consisting of the above cover from
Giumni and a few items reported from Kars.
AZERBAIJAN
Turkish Occupation 1918
Following the collapse of the Russian front, the 10,000-man Ottoman Caucasian Amy continued its advance to the east into Azerbaijan. By June 1918, Nakhichevan was in Turkish hands, and on 15 September Baku on the Caspian Sea was captured. Success in this area, however, was fleeting, as reverses elsewhere led to the Armistice of Mudros under which the Turks agreed to withdraw from the occupied territories. Baku was evacuated on 10 December 1918, and British forces from Persia occupied the city twelve days later.
FPO 62
Negative postmark of Fieldpost Office 62 in Nakhichevan. Cover sent to Istanbul. Censor marking with star and crescent is inscribed “Headquarters of Sth Caucasian Division." The Pulhan certificate states that return address is of Major Lutfi Bey, Head Veterinarian. This is the only recorded example from Nakhichevan.
fen,
Postal evidence of the Ottoman presence in Azerbaijan is extremely limited, consisting of the above cover and two items reported from the occupation of Baku.
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