Ottoman 1912 Telegraph Urgent Message Sent from Serres Balkans Ottoman Red Crescent
Ottoman Telegraph - Urgent Message Sent from Serres (1 November 1912)
Description:
A rare Ottoman telegraph dated 19 Teşrini Evvel 1328 (1 November 1912), featuring bilingual Ottoman Turkish and French text at the top under the header “Osmanlı Posta ve Telgraf Nezareti” (Ottoman Post and Telegraph Administration). The telegraph was sent from Siroz (modern Serres, North Macedonia) to Kemal Ömer Bey, accountant at the Istanbul Hilal-i Ahmer (Ottoman Red Crescent). Marked as “Acil” (Urgent), the message communicates the sender’s plan to arrive via a specified means of transport.
The telegraph was sent by Agah Efendi, providing a fascinating glimpse into the daily operations of the Ottoman postal system and the role of urgent communication in early 20th-century Macedonia. The Hilal-i Ahmer Cemiyeti, founded on 14 April 1877, continues its humanitarian work today as the Turkish Red Crescent, connecting this artifact to a long-standing tradition of Ottoman and modern humanitarian service.
Key Features:
- Date: 19 Teşrini Evvel 1328 (1 November 1912)
- Sender: Agah Efendi
- Recipient: Kemal Ömer Bey, accountant, Istanbul Hilal-i Ahmer
- Origin: Siroz (modern Serres, North Macedonia)
- Language: Ottoman Turkish and French
- Urgency: Marked Acil (Urgent)
- Historical Significance: Reflects Ottoman communication networks, the activities of Hilal-i Ahmer, and early 20th-century administrative correspondence
- Cultural Significance: Connects the late Ottoman humanitarian and postal system to the modern Turkish Red Crescent