Ottoman Empire Tughra of Sultan Abdülmecid I

Ottoman Empire · 1863 · 20 Paras

This is the first postage stamp issued by the Ottoman Empire. The design features the Tughra, the intricate calligraphic monogram of the reigning Sultan, Abdülmecid I. The Tughra is framed by a crescent moon, a symbol of the empire, with the denomination written in Arabic script below.

Issued during the Tanzimat reform era, these stamps marked the modernization of the Ottoman postal service, replacing a complex system of couriers and private posts with a standardized, prepaid system.