Ottoman Tax Receipt 1905 Muslim Woman Taxpayer in Balkans Manastir Vilayet
Ottoman Tax Receipt (Doğrudan Doğruya Tahsil Olunan Vergilere Mahsus Tezkere)
Manastır Vilayeti - 1 Mart 1321 (14 March 1905)
Description:
An original Ottoman Tax Receipt issued in 1321 (1905) for Fatma binti Ömer Efendi (Fatma, daughter of Ömer Efendi) from the Manastır Vilayet, a region corresponding today to parts of North Macedonia, Albania, and Greece. This official document records various tax payments directly collected by the Ottoman treasury, providing insight into both the administrative structure and the socio-economic life of the late Ottoman Balkans.
Fatma Hanım paid a total of 128 kuruş 30 para, divided among several categories: 51 kuruş 20 para for müsakkafat (buildings and income-generating property) and arazi (land tax), 3 kuruş for teçhizat-ı askeriye tertibi (a special wartime tax used to fund military equipment), 1 kuruş for tezkire-i esmani (document fee), and 83 kuruş 10 para to settle outstanding debts from previous years.
The presence of fiscal stamps, official seals, and signatures adds authenticity to this rare example of provincial Ottoman tax documentation. The document not only highlights the continuing Muslim presence in the Balkans under Ottoman rule but also reflects the fiscal pressures of the early 20th century, particularly those related to military expenditures during a period of regional unrest.
Key Features:
- Date: 1 Mart 1321 (14 March 1905)
- Origin: Manastır Vilayeti (present-day North Macedonia, Albania, Greece)
- Language: Ottoman Turkish
- Taxpayer: Fatma binti Ömer Efendi
- Payment breakdown:
- Müsakkafat and Arazi Vergisi: 51 kuruş 20 para
- Teçhizat-ı Askeriye Tertibi: 3 kuruş
- Tezkire-i Esmani: 1 kuruş
- Past debts: 83 kuruş 10 para
- Total paid: 128 kuruş 30 para
- Includes official Ottoman fiscal stamp, seal, and signature
- Reflects the Muslim presence and fiscal practices in Ottoman Balkan provinces at the turn of the century