Ottoman Empire Contraband Mail 20 Para
Ottoman Empire · 1884 · 20 Para
A rectangular stamp featuring the Ottoman crescent moon and star emblem, with 'POSTES OTTOMANES' and '20 PARA' in Latin script, alongside text in Ottoman Turkish script. The design is simple and functional.
Issued to tax letters carried by travelers outside the official postal monopoly, this stamp was part of a special 'contraband service' (Katchak) established to recover lost postal revenue. Contraband letters were taxed at double rates.
Printing Method
Typography
Image: Turkish Postal autorities · License: Public domain
Estimated Values by Condition
Perfectly centered, fresh, no faults
Well centered, fresh colors
Nicely centered, minor flaws
Average centering, acceptable
Off-center or visible wear
Prices are approximate market estimates for educational purposes. Actual values depend on specific factors including cancel type, margins, and provenance.
