PHILATELY

The Conquest of Istanbul

by Kaya DORSAN

The 553rd anniversary of the conquest of Istanbul by Sultan Mehmet  II the Conqueror was celebrated recently. Young Ottoman Sultan had eliminated the Byzantine Empire, in other words the Eastern Roman Empire by seizing Istanbul on May the 29th, 1453. This date is also the date when the “Middle Age” ended. Although recently some Western historians accept the date 1492 when America was discovered as the end of the Middle Age, the majority predicates on the passing of Istanbul into the hands of Turks.           

Scenes from the conquest

One of the most beautiful stamp series issued by Turkish Postal Administration was put up for sale in 1953 due to the 500th anniversary of the conquest of Istanbul. This series, consisting of 12 stamps and a “miniature sheet” was printed at the Courvoisier printing house in Switzerland. Among these stamps, scenes from the conquest of Istanbul and portraits of Sultan Mehmet are depicted. One stamp is worth 40 kuruş and was made by Prof. Nurullah Berk, the design of the others were made by İsmail İşmen. The writing on the stamps were prepared by Prof. Emin Barın. 100,000 copies of the stamps where printed, while 25,000 copies of the miniature stamps were copied.

On the stamp worth 5 kuruş, Rumelihisarı built by the Conqueror and on the one worth 8 kuruş, bringing of the cannons from Edirne which were to be used to attack Istanbul are depicted. On the ones worth 10 and 12 kuruş Ottoman navy, on the one worth 15 kuruş city walls of Istanbul are portrayed. The picture on a stamp worth 20 kuruş describes the soldier’s first entrance into Istanbul from the walls of Topkapı. Sultan Mehmet II and Orthodox Patriarch Gennadios are portrayed on one worth 40 kuruş. As it is known, the Sultan had given a scepter as a gift to Patriarch Gennadios and urged him to continue his duty. On the other stamps, Fatih Mosque, tomb of the Sultan Mehmet II, the 15^th century map of Istanbul and the portraits of the Sultan take place. The famous Architect Sinan made the miniature portrait over the stamp worth 2 liras and Italian painter Gentile Bellini made the portrait over the miniature sheet. The original of this painting is still displayed at the National Gallery in London.       

This beautiful and rich stamp series continues to be the favourite amongst collectors even today, especially the envelopes used with these stamps as they are considered to be amongst the most sought after philatelic materials. 

( DIPLOMAT  -  June 2006  -  Ankara )