Turkey Official Stamp, Red Crescent Overprint

Turkey · 1911 · 20 pa

This is an official stamp of Turkey, created by overprinting a contemporary definitive stamp with a red crescent moon. The overprint designated the stamp for use exclusively on official government mail. The underlying design features intricate geometric and calligraphic patterns typical of the Ottoman era.

Issued in 1911 during the late Ottoman Empire, these overprinted stamps were a practical way to create special-purpose postage without the expense of designing and printing entirely new stamps.