The List of Ottoman postal rates in Palestine surveys the postal rates in effect between 1840 and 1918 during the Ottoman rule in Palestine. Rates not applicable in Palestine are not included.
The Imperial edict of 12 Ramasan 1256 (14 October 1840)Collins & Steichele, 2000, pp. 17-21. and later ordinances made the distinction between three types of mail items: ordinary letters, registered letters (markings te'ahudd olunmoshdur), and official letters (markings tahirat-i mühümme).Steichele, 1977-1981, p. 1015.3 Prior to the Imperial Edict, the Ottoman postal service was intermittent for the inland cities in Palestine. Fees were calculated by the type of mail, the weight, and the distance (measured in hours): in 1840, an ordinary letter, weighing less than 10g, had a cost per hour of 1 para.Collins & Steichele, 2000, p. 13.Steichele, 1977-1981, p. 1015.4. Special fees applied to samples, insured mail, special delivery, and printed matters, etc. The postal rates changed frequently, and new services were added over the years. Upon joining the Universal Postal Union on 1 July 1875, Ottoman overseas rates conformed to UPU rules.
Postal rates Date Rate details and subsequent changes (relevant to Palestine) October 14, 1840Collins & Steichele, 2000, p. 13, quoting an Erkan Esmer article in "Tughra Times", October 1995, as source of original research. Regular mail 1 para per 3 dirhem (ca. 9.6g) and 1 hour; half a para increase per additional dirhem and hour Official mail twice base rate Printed matter & newspapers one quarter para per 5 dirhem and 1 hour Samples 10 para per hour and okka (1282g) Special delivery 25 kuruş base fee plus 3.5 kuruş per hourCorroboration needed as 25 kuruş = 1000 para Insurance 2 para per hour per 1000 kuruş of value; special rate for silver coins: 12 para per hour per 1000 kuruş of value January 22, 1843 Newspapers for a small format newspaper and up to 60 hours: 10 para; for any newspaper over 60 hours: 20 para February 1, 1858 Newspapers for a local newspaper and up to 50 hours: 20 para; 51 up to 100 hours: 40 para, over 101 hours: 60 para January 17, 1861Collins & Steichele, 2000, p. 14, quoting an Erkan Esmer article in "Tughra Times", October 1995, as source of original research. Newspapers for a daily newspaper and up to 50 hours: 2 para; 51 up to 100 hours: 4 para, over 101 hours: 6 para September 17, 1863 Regular mail 1 kuruş per 3 dirhem (9.6g) and up to 50 hours; 51 up to 100 hours: 3 kuruş. For every 100 hours over the first 100 hours: 2 kuruş additional (maximum: 11 kuruş). Weight over 3 dirhem: 50% increase per dirhem. Registration twice base rate Official mail same as civil rate Newspapers up to 50 hours: 10 para; 51 up to 100 hours: 20 para, over 101 hours: 30 para. Seamail: 20 para October 3, 1868 Regular mail 1.5 kuruş per 3 dirhem (9.6g) and up to 100 hours; 101 up to 200 hours: 3 kuruş. More than 200 hours: 6 kuruş. Seamail: 1 kuruş Newspapers 5 para per 5 dirhem (16g): 10 para for 5 up to 10 dirhem, over 10 dirhem: 20 para October 31, 1871 Weight measure decimalized: 10g instead of 3 dirhem (9.6g) Official mail free 1876 Foreign letters (UPU) 1 kuruş and 10 para per 10g; postcards (UPU): 20 para October 15, 1882Collins & Steichele, 2000, pp. 14-15, quoting an Erkan Esmer article in "Tughra Times", October 1995, as source of original research. Regular mail 2 kuruş per 10g; seamail: 20 para per 10g, postcards: 20 para Foreign letters (UPU) 1 kuruş per 10g; postcards (UPU): 20 para Postage due twice the actual rate Printed matter & newspapers 5 para up to 15g; up to 30g: 10 para, more than 30g: 20 para. Large format: 20 para up to 85g. Seamail: 10 para per 75g Samples 10 para up to 50g; up to 100g: 1 kuruş, 101 up to 200g: 2 kuruş, 200 up to 250g: 2 kuruş 10 para, additionally 20 para per extra 50g (maximum: 2000g) September 6, 1888Collins & Steichele, 2000, p. 15, quoting an Erkan Esmer article in "Tughra Times", October 1995, as source of original research. Regular mail 1 kuruş per 15g Registration 1 kuruş Advice of receipt 1 kuruş August 12, 1900 Money orders 20 paras up to 100 kuruş value; over 100 and up to 500 kuruş value: 20 paras per 100 kuruş value; over 500 and up to 2000 kuruş value: 20 paras per 200 kuruş value Insurance 1 kuruş per 1000 kuruş of value June 14, 1901 Parcels(sea or rail) 4 kuruş per 5 kg (using one sea or railway line); using two sea or railway lines: 8 kuruş per 5 kg; using three or more sea or railway lines: 10 kuruş per 5 kg Parcels(land) 20 kuruş per 5 kg (within same province); to adjacent province: 35 kuruş per 5 kg; to province removed by one province: 50 kuruş per 5 kg; to province removed by two provinces: 65 kuruş per 5 kg; to province removed by more than two provinces: 80 kuruş per 5 kg Int. parcels 11 kuruş per 5 kg October 13, 1903 festive postcardspostcards sent for religious or national festivities up to 30g: 5 para per five words; up to 50g: 10 para July 26, 1913 postal cheques 20 para for up to 10 kuruş value July 8, 1915 war orphan tax 10 para per letter; 20 para per registered letter; 5 kuruş per telegram, 1 kuruş per insured item
Currency: 1 Lira (Pound) = 100 kuruş 1 kuruş = 40 para
See also Ottoman post offices in Palestine Postage stamps and postal history of Palestine
References and sources Notes
Sources Collins, Norman J. and Anton Steichele (2000). The Ottoman post and telegraph offices in Palestine and Sinai. London: Sahara. . Steichele, Anton (1990/1991). The foreign post offices in Palestine : 1840–1918. 2 vols. Chicago: World Philatelic Congress of Israel, Holy Land, and Judaica Societies.