Ottoman 1925 Land Deed Home in Ankara Hamidiye Title Muslim Immigrant Family
Ottoman Turkish Deed (Tapu) from Early Republican Era Ankara – Property with Photograph (1925)
Description:
This is an original Ottoman Turkish property deed (tapu) from the early Republican period, dated 9 March 1341 (1925), documenting a residential property located in Hamidiye neighborhood on Çankırı Street in Ankara. Although issued during the Republic of Turkey, the document is written in Ottoman Turkish using Arabic script, as it predates the Turkish Alphabet Reform of 1 November 1928, when the Latin alphabet replaced the Ottoman script.
The deed records a house with a size of 150 arşın and clearly defined boundaries: to the right (canib-i yemini) Abdullah’s house, to the left (yesari) Veli’s house, behind (arkası) Musa’s house, and in front (cephesi) a paved road (kaldırım). The document also provides a detailed ownership history, stating that the property originally belonged to a migrant (muhacir) named Murad oğlu Hasan Ağa. Following his death, ownership passed to his wife Fatma Hanım and their son Ahmed Ağa. After Ahmed Ağa died without a wife or children, full ownership was transferred to Fatma Hanım, identified as Hacı İsmail kızı.
The property is valued at 90,000 kuruş, indicating a significant urban asset for the period. The deed bears official stamps and seals, reinforcing its authenticity and administrative importance.
What makes this document especially remarkable is the presence of Fatma Hanım’s photograph attached to the deed. Such photographic identification on property documents is extremely rare for the period and greatly enhances both its historical and collectible value. This feature provides a direct personal connection to the owner and reflects early modernization efforts in record-keeping during the transition from the Ottoman Empire to the Republic.
This piece offers valuable insight into inheritance practices, property rights, and daily urban life in early Republican Ankara, while also serving as a tangible example of the transitional phase between Ottoman and modern Turkish administrative systems. A highly attractive and unique collectible for historians and collectors alike.
Key Features:
• Type: Ottoman Turkish property deed (tapu)
• Location: Ankara, Hamidiye neighborhood, Çankırı Street
• Property Type: Residential house
• Size: 150 arşın
• Boundaries: Right: Abdullah’s house – Left: Veli’s house – Back: Musa’s house – Front: paved road (kaldırım)
• Original Owner: Murad oğlu Hasan Ağa (muhacir)
• Ownership Transfer: Passed to wife Fatma Hanım and son Ahmed Ağa; later fully to Fatma Hanım
• Final Owner: Hacı İsmail kızı Fatma Hanım
• Value: 90,000 kuruş
• Date: 9 March 1341 (1925)
• Language: Ottoman Turkish (Arabic script)
• Features: Official stamps, seals, and attached photograph of the owner
• Historical Significance: Rare example of a photographed owner on an early Republican Ottoman-script deed; illustrates inheritance and property transfer
• Condition: Please review images for overall condition and age-related wear