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Ottoman stamp

Started by Pellinore, May 11, 2024, 01:09:44 AM

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Pellinore

This document I saw in the Correr museum in Venice - a place coin lovers should visit. It must be a 17th century Ottoman passport. I can't read the text, but there is an interesting rubber stamp, a sort of seal. I think I read the year 1047 (=1637/1638 AD) in the lower middle. What does this stamp say?

When I was young (60s-70s), I read a number of books by Karl May. Some of his old colonial and catholic missionary undertones I hated, but I learned some things about Ottoman history from his books. Reading these adolescent adventure books brought me some interest for the Ottoman realm and history, I must confess.

I wonder if any of you recognizes this! Those who do, must think of the Budjeruldu, the valuable passport that Kara ben Nemsi (the Hero of the Desert) carried, the most important of his four passports (always a great trick: first you show your least passport, then your Better One, then the Great Impressive Form, and if the Kadi or District Police Officer is still not impressed enough, you draw your BUDJERULDU! and the Grand Illustrious Officer will only salute humbly, cringe and carry your panties (or so says my dictionary).

-- Paul


This is the stamp:
Ottoman stamp 11.jpg


The full document:
Ottoman stamp grr.jpg

P.S. I believe the written document mentions the date 1058 (= 1648 AD).

THCoins

Nice ! But readability is another thing. The only word i can recognize prima vista in the seal is Muhammad. No familiar phrases and constructs which are so helpfull on coins. Reading this would take me a heap of time.
Did you notice tat thers also is a year in your stamp ? Under the central cartouche is "1047".

Pellinore

Don't trouble yourself. The ticket said it was a credential issued by Sultan Mehmet IV, whose reign started in 1648 (though under regency of his mother, for he was only six years old). Maybe the term is 'ferman' or 'firman'. That's also a term you may find in the books of Karl May. I saw the year 1047, you can read that in the second line of the OP, that was the only thing I could read.

When I was a boy, I had a copy of the Yeoman book about 20th century coinage, and I was diligent and learned by heart all the numbers in various other languages and scripts: Arabic, Chinese and Ethiopian and so forth. In the meantime I forgot a lot, but these numbers have often been useful for me.

-- Paul

THCoins

Yes , i was scanning for words like ferman but did not find them.
Agree that the ability to detect numbers in whatever script can be very helpfull.