Part of the postal system of the Ottoman Empire was administered by Austria beginning in the early 1700s; stamps and covers specifically relating to Austria in the Ottoman (Turkish) Empire exist and are popular with collectors. The history of these Austria Turkish post office stamps is somewhat convoluted.
Stamps of Lombardy-Venetia
From 1863 to 1867, stamps of Lombardy-Venetia, a kingdom in Italy, were used in the Turkish post offices of the Austrian Empire. The Turkish relation to these stamps can only be established by the cancellations, not the postage stamps themselves.
Austria Turkish post office stamps printed in soldi
Austria printed stamps especially for its Ottoman post offices in 1867 and 1883; these were simply Austrian stamps (same design and colors) but using the soldi unit of currency instead of the Austrian kreuzer. These stamps abbreviated the currency name to ‘sld’.
Austria rare stamps for philatelists and other buyers
Paras and piasters overprint stamps
In 1886, the Turkish stamps of Austria began using the units of paras and piasters (1 piaster = 40 paras). Austria simply used its own kreuzer stamps with overprints in paras and piasters; this system would last several years.
Paras and piasters printed jubilee stamps
To celebrate the 60th year of the reign of Emperor Franz Joseph I, stamps were issued with the monarch’s likeness for Austria’s Ottoman postal needs pre-printed in paras and piasters. These Austria Turkish post office stamps date from 1908 and again from 1913-1914.
Postage due stamps of Austria’s Turkish post offices
In 1902, Austria used para/piaster overprints of its own postage due stamps; in 1908 it issued special postage due stamps specifically printed in piasters (but not paras).
The selection of the Austrian Empire’s postage stamps used in its Ottoman Empire post offices during the mid/late 1800s and early 1900s changes daily. Different collectible items will appeal to different collectors. The range of things currently available is always worth checking out – who knows when the perfect item will show up especially for you!
