Ottoman Property Tax Certificate 1880s İstanbul-Non Muslim Citizen Watermarked

Ottoman Property Tax Certificate (Müsakkafat Vergi Tezkiresi) – Beyazıd Ağa, İstanbul (ca. 1880s)

Description:
An Ottoman property tax certificate (Müsakkafat Vergi Tezkiresi), corresponding to a building (bina) tax, issued for a residence located in İstanbul, Bayazıd Ağa neighborhood, Muhallebici Street, No. 15.

The declared value of the property is 3,000 kuruş, with a tax payment of 12 kuruş recorded. The taxpayer’s name appears on the document, though it is difficult to decipher due to age and script degradation the name seems to be Ermonye or Armuysa, both of which suggest a non-Muslim (likely Armenian or Greek) origin.

The document is printed on watermarked Ottoman paper, which adds to its aesthetic and collectible value. While the date is not explicitly written, the document format and layout correspond closely to İstanbul tax receipts used in the late 1880s, indicating that it likely dates from that period.

A faint official seal (mühür) is present at the bottom, with an illegible date beneath it, partially erased or worn over time a common condition issue for surviving late 19th-century Ottoman tax papers.

This piece not only represents a typical urban property tax certificate from the late Ottoman period but also reflects the ethnic and cultural diversity of 19th-century İstanbul, where non-Muslim citizens such as Armenians and Greeks were active participants in the city’s residential and economic life.

Key Features:

• Document Type: Müsakkafat Vergi Tezkiresi (Building / Property Tax Certificate)

• Location: İstanbul, Bayazıd Ağa Mahallesi, Muhallebici Sokak, No. 15

• Property Value: 3,000 kuruş

• Tax Paid: 12 kuruş

• Approximate Date: ca. 1880s (late 19th century)

• Taxpayer: Likely Ermonye or Armuysa (non-Muslim name, possibly Armenian or Greek)

• Paper: Ottoman watermarked paper

• Features: Official seal with a partially legible date beneath

• Historical Significance:

  • Reflects late 19th-century Ottoman urban tax practices.

  • Demonstrates the presence of non-Muslim property owners in central İstanbul neighborhoods.

  • An example of watermarked Ottoman fiscal stationery, sought after by collectors for its craftsmanship and historical authenticity.

  • Offers insight into the urban residential structure and taxation in the Bayazıd–Aksaray district during the late Ottoman period.