Turkey Contraband Post 5 Piastres

Turkey · 1888 · 5 Piastres

The stamp features a central oval design with a star and crescent, symbols of the Ottoman Empire, surrounded by the country name 'TURQUIE' at the top and 'CONTREBANDE' at the bottom, with the denomination '5 PIASTRES' on either side. The design is framed by an ornate border.

Issued by the Ottoman Empire in 1888, this stamp was part of a special service to tax letters carried illegally by travelers, aiming to enforce the postal monopoly and recover lost postal revenue.