Ottoman Official Payment Deed Salary 1910 Greek Citizen Greece Empire
Ottoman Official Payment Deed with Hamidiye–Hejaz Railway Revenue Stamp (1910)
Description:
This Ottoman official payment deed (sened) is a representative example of late Ottoman administrative and fiscal practice. Such deeds were mandatory for payments of fifty kuruş and above made by official institutions, serving as formal proof of payment and accountability within the bureaucracy.
A particularly important feature of this document is the presence of a cold-embossed revenue stamp marked “Hamidiye Hicaz Demiryolu menfaatine.” The Ottoman state used these stamps on official documents to collect special revenues, which were then allocated to the construction and financing of the Hamidiye Hicaz Demiryolu. This reflects how the empire funded major infrastructure projects through everyday administrative transactions.
The document is dated 5 June 1326 (18 June 1910) and includes official stamps, revenue seals, and signatures, confirming its legal and official nature. Its subject concerns the payment of 130 kuruş to Yorgi, who is identified as a “Lüküs Lamba iş‘aliye memuru”—an official responsible for luxury lamp or street-lighting operations. In the text, Yorgi provides a written acknowledgment stating that he received the payment from the municipality.
The stated reason for the payment is Yorgi’s salary for May 1326, indicating that this document functioned as a formal municipal salary receipt. Although the name of the municipality is not specified in the text, the presence of the municipal mayor’s official seal suggests that further research could potentially identify the issuing authority.
Another noteworthy aspect is Yorgi’s signature, written in Greek script, including both name and surname. While the exact reading of the surname is difficult due to the handwriting and language, the signature itself is valuable evidence. It clearly shows that a Rum (Greek Orthodox) citizen was employed as a municipal official within the Ottoman state apparatus.
Overall, this document is historically significant because it illustrates the active role of Rum citizens in Ottoman municipal administration, particularly in practical urban services such as street and public lighting. Combined with the Hamidiye–Hejaz Railway revenue stamp, it offers insight into both the multi-ethnic structure of the Ottoman bureaucracy and the fiscal mechanisms used to support imperial infrastructure projects in the early 20th century.
Key Features:
• Document Type: Ottoman official payment deed (sened)
• Date: 5 June 1326 / 18 June 1910
• Legal Context: Mandatory for official payments of 50 kuruş and above
• Revenue Stamp: Cold-embossed stamp for the Hamidiye–Hejaz Railway fund
• Payment Amount: 130 kuruş
• Recipient: Yorgi, Lüküs Lamba iş‘aliye memuru
• Payment Reason: Salary for May 1326, paid by the municipality
• Signatures & Seals: Revenue stamp, official stamps, municipal mayor’s seal, and Yorgi’s Greek-script signature
• Historical Significance: Demonstrates the role of Rum officials in Ottoman municipal services, particularly urban lighting and infrastructure
• Collectible Value: A strong example of late Ottoman fiscal practice, municipal administration, and multi-communal state structure