Description: This item is an official government service stamp from the Republic of Turkey, centered around a large, stylized face value numeral "15". At the peak of the rectangular frame, the state designation "TURKIYE" is cleanly inscribed within an ornamental panel. Curving seamlessly right below it, an arched border contains the word "RESMÎ," denoting its strictly mandated use for official state administration. The inner circle behind the numeral is filled with uniform, vertical background lines that contrast sharply against the framing white borders. Heavily used in active service, this specimen features prominent, bold black ink handstamp cancellations split across both the upper edge and lower left quadrant, masking parts of the under-laying text and pattern.
Circa: 1948-1957
Condition: Used - Hinged
Notes:
This 15-kuruş denomination was routinely used to pay the required base tariff for heavier ministerial documents and official state registered mail during the post-WWII era. Early printings in this specific series from 1948 featured no watermark, while subsequent batches produced into the 1950s introduced subtle paper shifts and varying perforation layouts that intrigue modern specialized collectors. Since these issues were strictly barred from public civilian procurement at standard post offices, legitimate used examples like this one almost exclusively bear administrative office markings rather than traditional commercial town datestamps. Collectors look closely at the crispness of the framing fronds to tell initial crisp plate pressings apart from later, more worn plate impressions.