Ottoman 1889 Land Deed Field in Pristina Perliçe Title Muslim Family Kosovo Balkans

Ottoman Land Deed (Tapu) from Priştine (Kosovo) – Field Property in Perliçe Village (1889)

Description:

This is an original Ottoman Turkish land deed (tapu) documenting a field property located in Perliçe village near Priştine, recorded in the area known as “Bayır.” The document is dated 17 Şevval 1306 (16 June 1889) and is written in Ottoman Turkish using Arabic script. It provides detailed measurements of the land, recorded as 47 dönüm-ü atik, 17 dönüm, 7 evlek, and 6 arşın-ı cedid, reflecting both older and updated Ottoman land measurement systems.

The document notes that it was issued as a replacement (tebdil) for an earlier deed dated Rebiül Ahir 1304, likely due to loss or deterioration of the original document. This detail adds an additional layer of administrative history, illustrating how property records were maintained, renewed, and preserved within the Ottoman system.

The property is owned by Fuad Bey and Abdurrahman Paşa, both identified as Ottoman citizens (tebaa-i Devlet-i Aliyye). The boundaries reference neighboring landholders such as Mehmed Ağa, Ali Bey, and Poton, indicating a structured rural environment with clearly defined land ownership.

What makes this document particularly significant is its connection to the Balkans during the late Ottoman period. Priştine, now the capital of modern-day Kosovo, was an important administrative and cultural center. This deed offers a rare and tangible glimpse into Muslim landownership and rural life in the region, reflecting the social and economic structures of Ottoman Balkan society. For collectors, it is a highly desirable piece that not only documents property ownership but also vividly illustrates the presence, organization, and daily life of Muslim communities in the Balkans before the major political transformations of the 20th century.

The document bears official seals and handwritten entries, reinforcing its authenticity and making it collectible for those interested in Ottoman, Balkan, and Islamic history.

Key Features:

• Type: Ottoman land deed (tapu)

• Location: Priştine (modern-day Kosovo), Perliçe Village

• Area: Bayır

• Property Type: Field (agricultural land)

• Size: 47 dönüm-ü atik, 17 dönüm, 7 evlek, 6 arşın-ı cedid

• Boundaries: Mehmed Ağa – Ali Bey – Poton

• Owners: Fuad Bey and Abdurrahman Paşa

• Document Type: Replacement deed (tebdil of earlier record dated Rebiül Ahir 1304)

• Date: 17 Şevval 1306 (16 June 1889)

• Language: Ottoman Turkish (Arabic script)

• Features: Official seals and handwritten entries

• Historical Significance: Provides rare insight into Muslim landownership and rural life in the Ottoman Balkans, particularly in Priştine, today the capital of Kosovo

• Condition: Please review images for overall condition and age-related wear