The Stamps Of Turkey / Turkiye: On Steiner Pages.

See page 40. (guaranteed discussed elsewhere in prior 39 pages??)

Isfila #K3. One of a set of 6 in first issue of Ottoman League of Red Crescent Society charity stamps. Issued 1912. 2011 prices: 200TL mint & 50TL used. (app $133 & $33) (values a bit overblown in my mind...) Picture in Isfila as off-centered as yours! (Tough to find in good shape...)

Overprinted version of this stamp is K15, issued in 3rd series, in 1916. Similar values - 115TL & 45TL mint & used.

Interesting to see Aussie post doing similar nonsense as Turkish PTT & USPS. At least the upside-down Jenny sheets were sold at (unnecessarily high!) face values. Turkish PTT sells these 'just above face' with some FDCs/portfolios etc. Aussies also seem to be in the just-above face category, based on your picture. Clearly all just money-grabs - fun to see how different postal authorities get creative with new & unique ways to soak collectors for more $$!!

Nigel's much faster than I'll ever be!

Thought I'd posted this long ago...here's the whole series - just remember, cat is from 2011 - when it was app 1.5TL/$:

Thank you very much Nigel.
ebay was $9 if I recall, I thought at the time, a bit pricey.
I have quite a few tax forerunners, don't recall that one though.

ONEPS recommended McDonald, not seen that catalogue as yet, I'll have to search for price.

Yes a handsome stamp, small red crescents on the smoke-stacks, and along the hull.

Hmmm, sure I don't recall that Michael.

Thanks a bunch! Lovely page.

have to dash off, I am sure I saw a K6 ! on a $2 auction page.... Just hope I can find it again.

Update:
Snatched it. I owe you one Michael.
Paid €3, a bit chewed up, but a welcome member to the collection. (K15 I presume)
Serendipity.

You just snatched K18 - the 1916 overprinted version. 2011 prices: 20TL mint & 15TL for used. No price listed for 'chewed up' variety...

Do we have a translation of the overprint, please. ?

(risking more pins...)

I think it means 'Serendipity - Please Buy Me!'

Michel says it's a 5 piastre surcharge, so I guess it may be something like "besh kurushlar".

I know part of it is a new denomination - the original (K6) stamp was 40 paras - the overprinted one makes it 5 kurus...

Ah Michael, that takes me back.

And to complete this, and prevent irrational exuberance-type snatching, here's the 2nd series:

Wonderful stuff.
Thank you Nigel / Michael.

Inspiring to see the Isfila Catalogue...beginning to save for my copy.
Putting the pennies aside.

Dr. Birken's catalogues have left Germany for warmer climes.

"When I win Lotto" List.
Bibliography

Isfila : $750 AUD, (Possibly more as the Aussie dollar dives)

Turkey: Pre Postage Stamp Era.

The Levant Post Offices.
chapter I.
AS early as 1721, following the Peace of Passarowitz, a regular service of couriers was established between the Imperial Austiian Mission
in Constantinople and Vienna, and between the Russian Mission and St. Petersburg, the couriers travelling to and from the borders of the
state under escort of janissaries furnished by the Ottoman Government. By 1729 these official courier services had developed into regular
public posts, and were freely used by the English and Dutch merchants of Constantinople. The right of the missions to maintain these
services of couriers was recognised by the Porte by Art. 12 of the treaty between Turkey and Russia of 1720, and by Article. 21 of the
Austrian Treaty of 1739.
Article 76 of the Treaty of Commerce between Turkey and Russia (21st June, 1783) states that:
"With a view to facilitating the commerce of the respective subjects, as well as the reciprocal correspondence, the" Serene Porte engages to devise means proper to
ensure the celerity and security of the post and of the couriers which come and go to the frontier of Russia, and the Imperial Court of Russia promises equally the
same thing on its pnrt,"
The "most favoured nation" clause of a similar treaty concluded with Austria in the following year stated that:
"The Government of Austria is entitled to claim for its subjects, without exception, the same privileges, advantages, and favours which are now enjoyed, or may
hereafter be enjoyed by other Prankish nations, and particularly by the French, the English, the Dutch, and the Russians, or by any other still more favoured
nation."
These treaties established the right of the other powers entering into commercial treaties with the Sublime Porte, under international
law, to maintain their own postal services in the Ottoman dominions, and in them the existing foreign post offices in Turkey may be
said to have had their origin. Similar treaties were concluded with France in 1812, Great Britain in 1832, and Greece in 1834.
Regular postal services were also established by Germany and Egypt in 1870, and by Italy in 1873 and 1908. An abortive attempt at
establishing a national post office in Constantinople was made by Roumania in 1896. Venetian and Napolitan sea-posts were in
operation during the eighteenth century, but had ceased to exist long before the era of the postage stamp. The other foreign services
have been continued and extended down to the present day so that they enjoy a virtual monopoly of the foreign correspondence of
the Ottoman Empire, causing a loss to the Turkish revenue of nearly £500,000 annually.

Note : Janisseries

The Janissaries (Ottoman Turkish: meaning "new soldier") were elite infantry units that formed the Ottoman Sultan's household troops, bodyguards and the first modern standing army in Europe. The corps was most likely established during the reign of Murad I (1362–89).

Source : Stamps of the Levant Post Offices. D.B.Armstrong 1915