Ottoman 1904 Land Deed Vineyard in Edremit Balıkesir Title Muslim Citizens Watermark Andrea Galvani Pordenone 1
Ottoman Land Title Deed from Karesi (Balıkesir) Vineyard Title Deed from Edremit – Hekimzade Quarter, Akpınar Area (1904)
Description:
This Ottoman title deed is dated 9 Teşrinievvel 1320 (22 October 1904) and relates to a vineyard located in the Akpınar area of Hekimzade Mahallesi, Edremit Kazası, within the Karesi Sanjak (present-day Balıkesir Province). The deed records the ownership of a one-quarter share of the vineyard together with the trees standing upon it, illustrating the detailed manner in which partial ownership rights were documented in the Ottoman land registration system.
The property measures 2 dönüm (atik measure). Its boundaries are described as follows: to the east, the oak grove of Beylioğlu Osman; to the north, the garden of Keçeci İsmail; and to the south, the vineyard of Hacı Şakir. These detailed descriptions provide valuable insight into the agricultural landscape and neighboring landowners of Edremit during the late Ottoman period.
The previous owner is recorded as Cerrah Mustafa Efendi, an Ottoman citizen. The title "Cerrah" indicates that he was a surgeon or physician. Considering that the property was located in Hekimzade ("son of the physician") Quarter, it is possible that the neighborhood derived its name from the same family or another prominent family of physicians associated with the area, although this cannot be established with certainty from the deed alone.
The document further states that the one-quarter share of the vineyard and the trees upon it had passed to Cerrah Mustafa Efendi through inheritance from his wife, Ayşe Hanım, daughter of Mehmed Ağa. Supported by an officially certified ilmühaber (official certificate) issued by his neighborhood authorities, he acknowledged that the trees formed part of the inherited property and subsequently completed the legal transfer and sale of the share.
The new owner is recorded as Nuriye Hanım, daughter of Helvacızade Mehmed Efendi, an Ottoman citizen. The assessed value of the property is listed as 500 kuruş.
The deed bears its original revenue stamps and official seals and is printed on high-quality paper bearing the watermark of Andrea Galvani Pordenone, one of Italy's most distinguished paper manufacturers. The Galvani family had been producing fine paper in Pordenone since the eighteenth century, and Andrea Galvani papers became internationally renowned for their quality. The presence of this watermark adds further historical and collectible significance to the document.
Beyond its legal function, the deed provides valuable evidence of inheritance law, women's property rights, agricultural land ownership, and provincial life in the Ottoman Empire. It is an excellent example of the sophisticated Ottoman cadastral system and the international trade in high-quality paper used for official state documents.
Key Features:
• Type: Ottoman vineyard title deed
• Date: 9 Teşrinievvel 1320 (22 October 1904)
• Location: Akpınar Area, Hekimzade Quarter, Edremit, Karesi (Balıkesir)
• Property Type: One-quarter share of a vineyard with trees
• Property Size (Mikdar): 2 dönüm (atik)
• Boundaries (Hudud): East: Beylioğlu Osman's oak grove; North: Keçeci İsmail's garden; South: Hacı Şakir's vineyard
• Previous Owner: Cerrah Mustafa Efendi (Ottoman citizen)
• Transfer Basis: Inherited from his wife Ayşe Hanım, daughter of Mehmed Ağa, and subsequently transferred through legal sale
• New Owner: Nuriye Hanım, daughter of Helvacızade Mehmed Efendi
• Assessed Value (Kıymet): 500 kuruş
• Historical Context: Documents inheritance, partial ownership rights, and agricultural land registration in the late Ottoman Empire
• Physical Features: Original revenue stamps, official seals, and Andrea Galvani Pordenone watermark
• Paper Manufacturer: Andrea Galvani Pordenone, one of Italy's most renowned historical paper manufacturers
• Collectible Significance: Highly desirable for collectors of Ottoman title deeds, agricultural history, watermarked documents, and Ottoman provincial legal records