In the early 1900s, Austria operated post offices in territories that were part of the Ottoman Empire, an area known as the Austrian Levant. Special postage due (porto) stamps were issued for use at these Levant post offices between 1908-1910. Here are some key details:
Design: The porto stamps depicted the coat of arms of Austria, featuring a double-headed eagle motif. This was a common design element used on many Austrian stamps of the era.
Inscriptions: The stamps were inscribed “PORTO / AUFGELD” meaning “Postage Due” in German. They also stated “K.K.AUSTRO-UNGARISCHES POSTAMT” indicating they were for use at the Austro-Hungarian postal offices.
Values: Denominated in currency of the Ottoman Empire – paras and piastres. Common values included 10pa, 20pa, 1pi, 2pi up to 10pi.
Colors: Printed in colors like green, rose, orange and blue-green to represent different values and make them easily identifiable.
Paper/Printing: Typography printed, perforated, on unwatermarked wove paper.
Usage: These special porto stamps were applied to underpaid mail arriving at the Austrian Levant post offices to indicate the postage due amount owed by the recipient.
While not exceptionally rare, the 1908-1910 porto issues for the Austrian Levant are quite scarce and unusual. They represent an interesting crossover between Austrian and Middle Eastern/Turkish philately from the final years of Austro-Hungarian empire rule in the Levant region before World War I.
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