Turkey postage stamps

Turkey postage stamps encompass one of the world’s richest philatelic histories, spanning from the Ottoman Empire to the modern Republic, with 4,893 stamps cataloged from 1863–2026.

Historical Timeline
Period Key Facts
Ottoman Empire (1863–1922) First stamps issued in 1863 (Ottoman “Duloz” types)
Provisional Ottoman Stamps Handmade stamps surcharged by the Grand National Assembly, extremely rare (only 25–2,500 copies made)
Republic of Turkey (1923–present) Turkish Republic established; stamps inscribed “TÜRKİYE”
Modern Era 1923–2026: Nearly 5,000 definitive and commemorative issues
Most Valuable Turkish Stamp
Stamp Year Value Key Facts
Duloz Takse (25 kuruş) 1867 80,000 Turkish Lira (~$20,570 USD) Handmade Ottoman postage due stamp; only 9 examples found in Turkey today
About the Duloz Takse:

Named after Mr. Duloz, a French diemaker who prepared printing blocks in Paris

“Takse” means “taxation” — it’s a postage due stamp

The Ottoman government rejected the first 1863 edition and hired Duloz for better designs

Collecting Highlights
Catalog Scope:

4,893 stamps (1863–2025) on StampWorld, spanning 98 pages

4,879 stamps cataloged through 2025

Popular Themes:

Atatürk and Republic founders (Mustafa Kemal Atatürk appears frequently)

Ottoman heritage: Sultans, Islamic architecture, calligraphy

Nature: Turkish flora, wildlife, landscapes

History: Byzantine ruins, ancient civilizations, trade routes

Sports: Olympic Games, football (Turkish Super League)

Art and architecture: Ottoman mosques, traditional crafts