Ottoman Identity Document Parantsem Kouyoumdjian Armenian Citizen Armenia 1285

Ottoman Identity Document (Tezkire-i Osmaniye) – Kuyumcuoğlu Parantsem, Armenian Citizen (Istanbul, ca. late 19th century)

Description:
An original Ottoman identity document (Tezkire-i Osmaniye) issued during the late Ottoman Empire. This document served as a personal identification card, containing detailed personal information such as the holder’s name, parents’ names, birthplace, religion, physical features, and residence.

The tezkire belongs to Kuyumcuoğlu Parantsem, the Armenian wife of a jeweler (Kuyumcuoğlu / Kouyoumdjian) a surname that directly translates to “son of the jeweler.” Her father’s name is recorded as Karabet, and her mother’s name appears as Kadar (or Gadar). Her year of birth is 1285 AH (1868–1869 CE), and her religion (millet) is listed as Ermeni (Armenian). The document also notes her residential address, though the liva (district) and neighborhood (mahalle) sections are partially illegible. The house number is 58, and it is explicitly described as a hane (household).The document bears official stamps and signatures, showing it was formally registered and recognized by Ottoman civil authorities.

The Tezkire-i Osmaniye system was the precursor of modern ID cards. These documents were commonly folded into small squares and tucked into the inner pocket of a man’s fez, leading to their colloquial name “kafa kağıdı” (“head paper”). During identity checks, officials would command, “Kafa kağıdını çıkar!” (“Take out your head paper!”), and failure to present one often resulted in detention. This custom reflects the deep integration of the tezkire into Ottoman daily and administrative life, symbolizing both personal identity and civic responsibility.

This particular example is especially valuable as it documents the identity of a female Armenian Ottoman citizen, offering a rare glimpse into the multicultural fabric of late Ottoman society and the presence of non-Muslim communities, such as Armenians, within the empire’s urban centers.

Key Features:

• Document Type: Tezkire-i Osmaniye (Ottoman Identity Certificate)

• Holder: Kuyumcuoğlu (Kouyoumdjian) Parantsem

• Father’s Name: Karabet

• Mother’s Name: Kadar (or Gadar)

• Birth Year: 1285 AH (1868–1869 CE)

• Religion (Millet): Armenian

• Residence: Istanbul (exact liva and mahalle partly illegible)

• House Number: 58 (hane)

• Material: Ottoman official paper, handwritten and sealed

• Condition: Partially torn edges, but text remains legible; includes stamps and signatures

• Historical Context:

  • Early form of state-issued identity in the Ottoman Empire.

  • Commonly referred to as “kafa kağıdı”, carried in the fez.

  • Reflects the participation of Armenian citizens in Ottoman civic life.

  • Rare example of a female-issued Ottoman tezkire, highly collectible for both historical and social study.