In 1885, France issued stamps for use at its post offices operating within the Ottoman Empire (Turkish Empire). The stamp you’re referring to is the 1 piastre/25 centimes surcharge from this series.
Here are the key details about this French Levant stamp:
The Stamp:
- It was a French definitive stamp (25 centimes) overprinted with “1 PIASTRE” for use in the Turkish Empire.
- The base stamp featured the “Peace and Commerce” (Sage type) design used on regular French stamps of the period.
- It was surcharged to show both the French centime value and the local piastre equivalent.
Postal Usage:
- French post offices operated in various cities within the Ottoman Empire including Constantinople (Istanbul), Smyrna (Izmir), Beirut, and other Levantine ports.
- These offices served French nationals, foreign residents, and local populations who preferred the more reliable French postal service.
- The dual currency marking allowed for easy conversion between French and Turkish monetary systems.
Design Details:
- The underlying stamp showed the allegorical figure of Peace and Commerce.
- The overprint “1 PIASTRE” was applied in black ink over the original French stamp.
- Inscriptions included “POSTES FRANÇAISES” on the base stamp.
Historical Context:
- This was part of the broader system of European “capitulations” – special privileges granted by the Ottoman Empire to foreign powers.
- French post offices operated in the Levant from the 1860s until around 1914-1923.
- These stamps represent an interesting intersection of French colonial postal history and Ottoman Empire philately.
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