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Hamidiye Hejaz Railway Donation Receipt (İane Makbuzu) – Sultan Abdülhamid II (1318 AH / 1902)
Description:
This is an original Hamidiye Hejaz Railway Donation Receipt (İane Makbuzu) issued during the reign of Sultan Abdülhamid II and dated 1318 AH (approximately 1902 AD). With a face value of 5 kuruş, the receipt was printed as part of the fundraising campaign organized to finance the construction of the Hejaz Railway, one of the most ambitious and symbolically significant infrastructure projects of the late Ottoman Empire.
At the upper center of the document appears the imperial tuğra of Sultan Abdülhamid II together with the Ottoman coat of arms, emphasizing the direct patronage of the Sultan over the project. Beneath these emblems, the printed inscription states that the receipt was issued under the supervision of the Imperial High Commission established by the Sultan for the purpose of collecting donations toward the construction expenses of the Hejaz Railway.
Commissioned by Sultan Abdülhamid II, the Hejaz Railway was conceived to connect Istanbul with the holy cities of Medina and Mecca, providing Muslims throughout the empire with a safer, faster, and more affordable pilgrimage route. Beyond its practical purpose, the railway became one of the Ottoman Empire's most important political and religious projects, symbolizing Islamic unity, imperial authority, and the modernization of transportation across the Muslim world.
To finance this enormous undertaking, the Ottoman government appealed to Muslims throughout the empire and beyond to contribute voluntarily. Donation receipts such as this were issued to acknowledge these contributions and soon became powerful symbols of religious devotion, public charity, and loyalty to the Ottoman state. Today, they are among the most desirable pieces of late Ottoman financial and historical ephemera.
The official circular seal at the bottom of the receipt reads "Hicaz Demiryolu İane Komisyonu 1318," confirming its issuance by the Hejaz Railway Donation Commission during the fundraising campaign. The combination of the Sultan's imperial tuğra, the Ottoman coat of arms, and the official commission seal significantly enhances both the historical importance and collectible appeal of the document.
For collectors and researchers, this is an outstanding artifact representing Ottoman financial history, Islamic philanthropy, and one of the greatest engineering achievements of the late Ottoman Empire.
Key Features:
• Type: Ottoman Hejaz Railway donation receipt (İane Makbuzu)
• Date: 1318 AH (approximately 1902 AD)
• Reign: Sultan Abdülhamid II
• Face Value: 5 kuruş
• Language: Ottoman Turkish
• Purpose: Donation receipt issued to support the construction of the Hejaz Railway
• Imperial Symbols: Sultan Abdülhamid II's tuğra and the Ottoman coat of arms
• Issuing Authority: Hejaz Railway Donation Commission under the supervision of the Imperial High Commission
• Official Seal: Circular seal reading "Hicaz Demiryolu İane Komisyonu 1318"
• Historical Context: Issued during the fundraising campaign for one of the Ottoman Empire's most significant transportation and pilgrimage projects
• Physical Features: Original printed receipt with imperial tuğra, Ottoman coat of arms, and official commission seal
• Collectible Significance: Highly desirable for collectors of Ottoman railway history, Abdülhamid II memorabilia, Islamic philanthropy, Ottoman fiscal documents, and historical ephemera