Ottoman Official Payment Deed Salary 1914 Muslim Citizen Sinop Mosque Empire

Ottoman Official Payment Deed – Sinop Evkaf (1914)

Description:

This Ottoman official payment deed (resmî sened) records a modest yet well-documented transaction carried out within the vakıf (pious foundation) system, a cornerstone of Islamic and Ottoman social life. The document concerns a payment of 12 kuruş made to Mehmed Bey in return for his temporary service (vekâlet) in cleaning duties at Ömer Efendi Camii during the month of February.

The payment was issued by the Evkaf administration of Sinop, reflecting the structured way in which even small-scale services related to mosque maintenance were formally recorded and compensated. This highlights the administrative discipline of the Ottoman vakıf system, where cleanliness and upkeep of religious spaces were treated as official responsibilities supported by documented payments.

Dated 24 February 1329 (9 March 1914), the document belongs to the late Ottoman period, only a few years before the end of the Empire. Despite the small monetary amount, the presence of official wording, dating, and institutional attribution makes it a meaningful archival piece.

For collectors and researchers interested in vakıf history, Islamic institutional life, and the local history of Sinop, this document offers a tangible glimpse into everyday religious and administrative practices of the Ottoman world.

Key Features:

• Document Type: Ottoman official payment deed (resmî sened)

• Date: 24 February 1329 / 9 March 1914

• Payment Amount: 12 kuruş

• Recipient: Mehmed Bey

• Service Provided: Acting as a substitute (vekâlet) for cleaning duties

• Location of Service: Ömer Efendi Mosque

• Paying Authority: Sinop Evkaf Administration

• Payment Period: February 1329

• Historical Context: Late Ottoman vakıf administration and mosque maintenance

• Collector Interest: Vakıf history, Islamic institutions, and Sinop local history