Ottoman 1888 Conditional Sale Document Adana Kayarlı Armenian Citizens Armenia
Ottoman Conditional Sale Petition (Vefaen Bey) from Adana – Kayarlı Village (1888)
Description:
This Ottoman Turkish legal document is a detailed petition concerning a “vefaen bey” transaction, a form of conditional sale used as a secured loan arrangement. Dated 24 Şubat 1303 (Rumi), corresponding to 7 March 1888 (Gregorian), the document records a credit agreement established in Adana, involving agricultural land and a farmstead as collateral.
In this arrangement, the borrower pledged a total of six agricultural fields and one çiftlik (farm complex), all located in Kayarlı Village, near present-day Yüreğir in Adana. The six fields together amount to 730 dönüms, while the farmstead is described as including three buildings and a courtyard. The boundaries of each parcel are carefully recorded in accordance with Ottoman legal conventions, underscoring the formal and enforceable nature of the agreement.
The properties were transferred under a vefaen sale to Tadrosyan Haçer Ağa for a total sum of 18,000 kuruş, received in full and in cash by the borrower. The contract outlines a structured repayment plan divided into three installments, with the exact amounts clearly specified. The terms further state that if the borrower fails to meet a scheduled payment, Haçer Ağa is entitled to sell portions of the pledged properties sufficient to cover the unpaid installment. Conversely, as each installment is paid on time, the lien on a corresponding portion of the property is lifted, reflecting a proportional release mechanism within the agreement.
The borrower is identified in Ottoman Turkish as Antor oğlu Kirkor, with his name also written in Armenian script at the bottom of the document. Both parties are Ottoman citizens of Armenian origin, highlighting the role of Armenian merchants and landholders in the regional economy of late 19th-century Adana.
This document stands out for its clarity and level of financial detail. It offers a rare and concrete example of land-based credit practices in the Ottoman Empire, illustrating how agricultural assets were leveraged in structured lending agreements. The involvement of a figure such as Tadrosyan Haçer Ağa further reflects the presence of established non-Muslim financiers and traders in the commercial life of the region.
Additional annotations on the reverse side, written by official institutions, confirm that both parties had no outstanding tax debts and that the document was duly processed by the land registry authorities. The presence of revenue stamps and official seals further reinforces its authenticity and administrative significance.
For collectors and researchers, this is a highly desirable piece combining legal, economic, and social history. It provides insight into Ottoman financial practices, rural landholding, and inter-communal commercial relations, all within a well-documented and legally structured framework.
Key Features:
• Type: Ottoman legal petition (vefaen bey – conditional sale)
• Date: 24 Şubat 1303 (Rumi) / 7 March 1888
• Location: Adana, Kayarlı Village (near Yüreğir)
• Language: Ottoman Turkish (with Armenian script signature)
• Transaction Type: Secured loan through conditional sale (vefaen)
• Total Properties: 6 fields and 1 farmstead
• Total Land Size: 730 dönüms (fields)
• Farmstead Details: 3 buildings and a courtyard
• Sale Amount: 18,000 kuruş (paid in cash)
• Creditor: Tadrosyan Haçer Ağa
• Debtor: Antor oğlu Kirkor (Ottoman citizen)
• Payment Plan: 3 installments with specified amounts
• Legal Terms: Right to sell portions of collateral upon default; proportional release of lien upon payment
• Community Context: Armenian Ottoman citizens engaged in land-based credit and trade in Adana
• Physical Features: Revenue stamps and official seals; official annotations on reverse
• Archival Notes: Reverse includes confirmations of tax clearance and land registry processing
• Collectible Significance: Strong relevance for collectors of Ottoman legal, economic, and agricultural history