Ottoman Travel Permit 1888 Sivas Divriği Horavenk Armenian Citizen Armenia
Ottoman Travel Permit (Mürur Tezkiresi) – Armenian Citizen from Sivas Region Traveling to Istanbul (1888)
Description:
This is an original Ottoman Turkish mürur tezkiresi (internal travel permit), dated 18 Safer 1306 / 11 Teşrin-i Evvel 1304 (23 October 1888). Such documents functioned as internal passports within the Ottoman Empire, required for individuals traveling between regions or entering major cities such as Istanbul. They were issued to regulate population movement, prevent tax evasion, control labor migration, and ensure state security. These permits also included official instructions to authorities to allow the bearer to travel safely without interference.
The document was issued to Kashan oğlu (Kashanyan) Setrak, an Armenian Ottoman subject. His religious affiliation is explicitly recorded as Armenian, and the document provides detailed personal information including his place of birth (Divriği), residence (Horavenk), and his father’s name (David). His destination is listed as Istanbul, one of the empire’s most important administrative and economic centers.
One of the most striking features of this document is the highly detailed physical description (eşgâl) of the bearer, a standard but fascinating element of such permits. Setrak is described as 32 years old, tall, with black eyes, a normal nose, thin mouth, black mustache, and a standard chin. These vivid details bring the individual to life, offering a rare, almost portrait-like written identification from the late 19th century.
The permit also records a payment of 10 kuruş for its issuance, reflecting the bureaucratic and regulated nature of internal mobility within the Ottoman system. Historically, mürur tezkiresi documents were abolished after the Young Turk Revolution, as they were seen as restrictive to personal freedoms.
From a historical and collector’s perspective, this document is exceptionally significant. It offers a powerful window into the Armenian presence in the Sivas region, particularly around Divriği and its surrounding settlements. The document stands as tangible proof of the structured, documented lives of Armenian citizens within the Ottoman administrative system. It reflects not only state control but also the everyday realities of mobility, identity, and coexistence.
For collectors, this is far more than a travel permit it is a deeply human document that captures a single life within the broader historical fabric of the Ottoman Empire. It vividly illuminates the Armenian social history of Sivas, making it a highly desirable and emotionally compelling piece. Such documents are increasingly rare, especially with this level of personal detail, and they serve as invaluable artifacts for anyone interested in Ottoman, Armenian, or Anatolian history.
Key Features:
• Type: Ottoman internal travel permit (mürur tezkiresi)
• Name: Kashan oğlu (Kashanyan) Setrak
• Religion: Armenian
• Birthplace: Divriği (Sivas region)
• Residence: Horavenk
• Father’s Name: David
• Destination: Istanbul
• Age: 32
• Physical Description: Tall, black eyes, normal nose, thin mouth, black mustache, normal chin
• Fee: 10 kuruş
• Date: 18 Safer 1306 / 23 October 1888
• Language: Ottoman Turkish (Arabic script)
• Features: Detailed physical description, official format of internal passport
• Historical Significance: Exceptional document reflecting Armenian social history in the Sivas region and Ottoman internal mobility system
• Condition: Please review images for overall condition and age-related wear