The year 1922 was an exceptionally active period for Turkish philately. The Postal Administration of the Ankara Government placed three different stamp series into circulation. While examining their brief histories below, it is also useful to revisit the background of the Ottoman Selimiye Mosque non-issue, which is closely connected to these developments.
The Selimiye Mosque Non-Issue
The firm I.G.A. Barabino & Graeve prepared sample stamps depicting the Selimiye Mosque in hopes of securing a printing contract from the Ottoman Government. Following the submission of these samples, an official order of 10,000 stamps was placed. The stamps were printed in sheets of 100, on thick paper, and shipped to Antalya. However, due to wartime conditions, they were most likely never forwarded to Istanbul. Another theory found in philatelic literature suggests that the official who placed the order was dismissed, and his replacement refrained from releasing the stamps out of concern that they might be confused with existing issues.
The Turkish army later discovered these stamps in a post office captured in the south and set aside three sheets (300 stamps) of each denomination. According to Pulhan, this number was five sheets (500 stamps). One sheet of each value was distributed as souvenirs to members of the Grand National Assembly, while the remaining sheets were reserved for the PTT Museum.
This chain of events significantly enhances the historical and philatelic importance of the series. The extremely limited number of surviving sheets and singles makes the Selimiye Mosque non-issue highly desirable among collectors today.
The Second Adana Issue
Approximately 6,500–8,563 stamps of each denomination were overprinted at the Babalık Newspaper Printing House in Konya with the inscription “ADANA – 5 KANUNİSANİ 1338” to commemorate the liberation of Adana. This overprint represents one of the most defining interventions that elevate the philatelic significance of the series. All remaining unoverprinted stamps were officially destroyed by burning, ensuring that the surviving population is genuinely limited and tightly controlled.
With the arrival of new issues from Genoa (the Meclis-i Mebusan and Genoa Postal Series), the Ankara Government no longer needed the overprinted Adana stamps. The remaining stock was sold to collectors at a 25% premium, with proceeds allocated to aid orphans. This explains why genuinely used examples are exceedingly rare.
Today, most “used” Second Adana stamps found on the market bear forged cancellations, as genuinely postally used examples are scarce and highly sought after. Conversely, forgeries of the stamps themselves are uncommon; the manipulation is almost always limited to the cancellations.
The Grand National Assembly Stamps
The Grand National Assembly stamps were printed in sheets of 200 on very thin paper. The use of thin paper was almost certainly a cost-saving measure, given the economic conditions of the period. Considering that the standard postal rate at the time was 5 kuruş, the low denominations of the series, ranging from 5 para to 3 kuruş, are particularly noteworthy from a philatelic perspective.
The series was most likely ordered before June 1921, but administrative and logistical delays postponed its release. As a result, the stamps entered circulation almost simultaneously with the first issues of the Genoa Postal Series, creating an interesting overlap in philatelic chronology and offering collectors a unique comparative study.
The Genoa Postal Series
The Genoa Series was printed on three different paper thicknesses. Interestingly, the stamps bear three distinct inscriptions:
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“Devleti Osmaniye Postaları” (Ottoman State Post)
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“Osmanlı Postaları” (Ottoman Posts)
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“Türkiye Postaları” (Turkish Posts)
Inscriptions by Denomination
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10 para and 50 kuruş: Devleti Osmaniye Postaları
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1 kuruş: Osmanlı Postaları
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All other values: Türkiye Postaları
Printings
1st Printing – Thin Paper
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10 para
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1 kuruş
2nd Printing – Thick Paper
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10 para
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1 kuruş
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3 kuruş
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50 kuruş
3rd Printing – Medium Paper
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All remaining denominations
As noted above, the Second Printing includes the stamp listed in catalogues as “Grand National Assembly 3 kuruş – thick paper.” According to an alternative philatelic theory, a second order was placed for the rapidly exhausted low denominations, and higher-quality paper was specifically requested. Barabino responded by printing four values, including the 3 kuruş Grand National Assembly stamp, on thick paper.
The remaining denominations were later printed with modified inscriptions, replacing “Devleti Osmaniye Postaları” with “Türk Postaları.” The 1 kuruş value, however, continued to use the Selimiye Mosque design and retained the older inscription “Osmanlı Postaları.”
The transition from “Devleti Osmaniye Postaları” to “Türk Postaları” marks not only a philatelic shift but also a symbolic turning point in Turkey’s national identity. It reflects the early steps taken within the Grand National Assembly toward transforming the Ottoman state structure into the emerging Turkish Republic.
The 1 kuruş stamp, as mentioned earlier, was printed using the same design in both the Selimiye Mosque non-issue and the Genoa Postal Series. Since the perforation and paper characteristics are identical, distinguishing thick-paper examples in mint condition is practically impossible. For this reason, many catalogues do not list the Selimiye Mosque 1 kuruş non-issue as a separate entry.
References
Anatolia, Max Mayo, 2002
Pulhan Catalogue, Pulhan, 1959
Stamps of Turkey, Passer, 1926
Burak Specialized Turkish Stamps Catalogue, 1993
Isfila Catalogue, 2005
Pulko Catalogue, 2005
