List of Ottoman postal rates in Palestine

The List of Ottoman postal rates in Palestine surveys the postal rates in effect between 1840–1918 during the Ottoman rule in Palestine. Rates not applicable in Palestine are not included.

The Imperial edict of 12 Ramasan 1256 (14 October 1840) 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). 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

Para (currency)

The para was a former currency of the Ottoman Empire, Turkey, Montenegro and Albania, and is the current subunit, although rarely used, of the Serbian dinar....

. 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

Universal Postal Union

The Universal Postal Union is an international organization that coordinates postal policies among member nations, in addition to the worldwide postal system. The UPU contains four bodies consisting of the Congress, the Council of Administration , the Postal Operations Council and the...

on 1 July 1875, Ottoman overseas rates conformed to UPU rules.

Postal rates

Date	Rate details and subsequent changes (relevant to Palestine)
October 14, 1840	Regular mail	1 para Para (currency) The para was a former currency of the Ottoman Empire, Turkey, Montenegro and Albania, and is the current subunit, although rarely used, of the Serbian dinar.... 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 Kurus Kuruş is a Turkish currency subunit. Since 2005, one new Turkish lira is equal to 100 kuruş. The kuruş was also the standard unit of currency in the Ottoman Empire until 1844, and from that date until the late 1970s was a subdivision of the former lira. It was subdivided into 40 para , each of... base fee plus 3.5 kuruş per hour
	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, 1861	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
October 3, 1868	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)
October 31, 1871	Official mail	free
1876	Foreign letters (UPU)	1 kuruş and 10 para per 10g; postcards (UPU): 20 para
October 15, 1882	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, 1888	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
August 12, 1900	Insurance	1 kuruş per per 1000 kuruş of value
June 14, 1901	Parcels (sea or rail)	4 kuruş per 5kg (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 5kg (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 postcards	up to 30g: 5 para per five words; up to 50g: 10 para
July 26, 1913	postal cheques	20 para for up tp 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)
Turkish lira
The Turkish lira is the currency of Turkey and the de facto independent state of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. The lira is subdivided into 100 kuruş...

= 100 kuruş
1 kuruş = 40 para
Para (currency)
The para was a former currency of the Ottoman Empire, Turkey, Montenegro and Albania, and is the current subunit, although rarely used, of the Serbian dinar....

Postal rates

See also