Job title
Pul Basmemuru
Group of job titles: Postal service and dispatch
Stored spellings: Pul Basmemuru; pul basmemuru
11 officials held the job title Pul Basmemuru. Its 56 annual entries run from 1870 to 1909 (AH 1287 to 1326). The median of the 56 recorded monthly salaries is 900 kuruş, against 500 kuruş for the whole collection in the same years. The median entry paid 1.8 times the collection median of its year. On average an official was paid more than 80 per cent of the other officials with a salary in the same year. Half of the officials have an entry in it in no more than 2 different years, and a quarter in 5 or more. It was the first title on record for 0 per cent of the officials and the last for 45 per cent. The entries name 3 places. The place with the largest number of officials is Istanbul, with 9.
- Officials
- 11
- Years on recordAH 1287 to 1326, 39 years with an entry
- 1870 to 1909
- Median monthly salary1.8× the collection median of the same years (500 kuruş)
- 900 kuruş
- Places with officials
- 3
- First job title on recordfor 0 of the 11 officials
- 0%
Profile of the group: Postal service and dispatch
No source read describes Pul Basmemuru by itself, so this is the profile of its group of job titles.
The public post of the Ottoman state, founded with the Ministry of Post in 1840 and joined with the telegraph in 1871. Post offices took in, carried and delivered letters, printed matter, registered letters and valuables.
Tools and technology
- the old overland roads, steamers of the state and of foreign companies, and later the railways
- postage stamps from 1862
History
Before 1840 official messages were carried by couriers between relay stations (menzil) kept by local contracted postmasters (menzilci); the relay system ended when the post was organised in 1839 and 1840. The empire joined the Universal Postal Union in 1874. The postal guides list 1,033 post and telegraph offices in 1884 and 1,288 in 1892.
Sources
- Halaçoğlu, Yusuf (2004). Menzil (Osmanlı). TDV İslâm Ansiklopedisi, vol. 29, 159-161. Online copy (read 14 October 2026).Pages or part: 159-161. Used for: history.
- Koh, Choon Hwee (2021). The Ottoman postmaster: contractors, communication and early modern state formation. Past and Present 251, 113-152. Online copy.Pages or part: 113, 118-120. Used for: history.
- Okan, Ayşegül (2003). The Ottoman postal and telegraph services in the last quarter of the nineteenth century. MA thesis, Boğaziçi University, Atatürk Institute for Modern Turkish History.Pages or part: iii, 20-25, 66, 77. Used for: summary, tools and technology, history.
- The school and the office: training, entry and pay in the Ottoman Post and Telegraph service, 1870-1905. Working paper, 2026 (the paper behind this collection; its Section II reports Akyıldız 2024, Ata 2022 and Ayhan and Maviş 1994).Pages or part: Section II. Used for: summary.
Monthly salary each year
The same numbers as a table
| Year | Recorded salaries | Median | Mean | Lower quartile | Upper quartile | Median of the whole collection |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1870/71 | 1 | 550 | 550 | 550 | 550 | 600 |
| 1871/72 | 1 | 770 | 770 | 770 | 770 | 550 |
| 1872/73 | 1 | 770 | 770 | 770 | 770 | 550 |
| 1873/74 | 1 | 770 | 770 | 770 | 770 | 500 |
| 1874/75 | 1 | 770 | 770 | 770 | 770 | 535 |
| 1875/76 | 1 | 1,000 | 1,000 | 1,000 | 1,000 | 530 |
| 1876/77 | 1 | 1,050 | 1,050 | 1,050 | 1,050 | 575 |
| 1877/78 | 1 | 1,000 | 1,000 | 1,000 | 1,000 | 560 |
| 1878 | 1 | 1,000 | 1,000 | 1,000 | 1,000 | 600 |
| 1879/80 | 1 | 1,000 | 1,000 | 1,000 | 1,000 | 500 |
| 1880/81 | 1 | 1,000 | 1,000 | 1,000 | 1,000 | 500 |
| 1881/82 | 1 | 1,000 | 1,000 | 1,000 | 1,000 | 500 |
| 1882/83 | 1 | 1,000 | 1,000 | 1,000 | 1,000 | 500 |
| 1883/84 | 1 | 1,000 | 1,000 | 1,000 | 1,000 | 500 |
| 1884/85 | 1 | 1,000 | 1,000 | 1,000 | 1,000 | 500 |
| 1885/86 | 1 | 1,200 | 1,200 | 1,200 | 1,200 | 500 |
| 1886/87 | 1 | 1,200 | 1,200 | 1,200 | 1,200 | 500 |
| 1887/88 | 1 | 1,200 | 1,200 | 1,200 | 1,200 | 500 |
| 1888/89 | 2 | 1,100 | 1,100 | 1,050 | 1,150 | 500 |
| 1889/90 | 1 | 1,000 | 1,000 | 1,000 | 1,000 | 500 |
| 1890/91 | 2 | 900 | 900 | 900 | 900 | 500 |
| 1891/92 | 3 | 900 | 866.67 | 850 | 900 | 500 |
| 1892/93 | 2 | 850 | 850 | 825 | 875 | 500 |
| 1893/94 | 2 | 850 | 850 | 825 | 875 | 500 |
| 1894/95 | 2 | 907.5 | 907.5 | 873.75 | 941.25 | 500 |
| 1895/96 | 2 | 897.5 | 897.5 | 896.25 | 898.75 | 500 |
| 1896/97 | 2 | 807.5 | 807.5 | 806.25 | 808.75 | 500 |
| 1897/98 | 2 | 807.5 | 807.5 | 806.25 | 808.75 | 500 |
| 1898/99 | 2 | 830 | 830 | 820 | 840 | 500 |
| 1899/1900 | 2 | 955 | 955 | 882.5 | 1,027.5 | 500 |
| 1900/01 | 1 | 860 | 860 | 860 | 860 | 500 |
| 1901/02 | 1 | 860 | 860 | 860 | 860 | 500 |
| 1902/03 | 1 | 860 | 860 | 860 | 860 | 500 |
| 1903/04 | 3 | 495 | 585 | 447.5 | 677.5 | 475 |
| 1904/05 | 3 | 800 | 620 | 500 | 830 | 450 |
| 1905/06 | 2 | 850 | 850 | 825 | 875 | 475 |
| 1906/07 | 1 | 900 | 900 | 900 | 900 | 450 |
| 1907/08 | 1 | 900 | 900 | 900 | 900 | 300 |
| 1908/09 | 1 | 900 | 900 | 900 | 900 | 350 |
Salaries are nominal monthly amounts in kuruş, as assigned. The thick line is the median of each year and the thin line the mean. A year with fewer than 5 recorded salaries is drawn as an open mark and is not joined to the line.
Pay against the whole collection
11 officials with a salary, each counted once in the band of the median of the official's salaries in this job. A bar runs from its number to the next; the last is 2,500 kuruş and more. Most officials (45%) are in the band 750 to 1,000 kuruş.
The same numbers as a table
| Median monthly salary, kuruş | Officials | Share | Whole collection |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 to 100 | 0 | 0% | 3% |
| 100 to 200 | 0 | 0% | 10% |
| 200 to 300 | 0 | 0% | 17% |
| 300 to 400 | 1 | 9% | 18% |
| 400 to 500 | 1 | 9% | 17% |
| 500 to 750 | 1 | 9% | 23% |
| 750 to 1,000 | 5 | 45% | 5% |
| 1,000 to 1,500 | 3 | 27% | 4% |
| 1,500 to 2,500 | 0 | 0% | 2% |
| 2,500 and more | 0 | 0% | 1% |
The median of the 56 recorded monthly salaries of this job is 900 kuruş. In the same years the whole collection paid a median of 500 kuruş. The median entry paid 1.8× the collection median of its year, and the middle half of the entries between 1.62× and 2×. On average an official of this job was paid more than 80% of the other paid officials of the same year.
The dot is the median, the box the middle half of the entries. Dashed lines: the collection median of the same years (1×) and the middle of the paid officials (50%).
Where the job was held
| Place | Officials | Remark |
|---|---|---|
| Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 9 | |
| Galata | 1 | |
| Izmir (İzmir) | 1 |
Career paths: the titles just before and after
The number is the officials who made the move. Under it, the median change of the monthly salary: the first salary of the later title less the last salary of the earlier one, where at least 5 moves have both.
Held just before
The title of the entries just before a run of Pul Basmemuru. Pay: the change on moving from that title to Pul Basmemuru. The 7 titles with most officials, of 11 moves in all.
Held just after
The title of the entries just after a run of Pul Basmemuru. Pay: the change on moving from Pul Basmemuru to that title. The 5 titles with most officials, of 6 moves in all.
Of the 17 moves shown, 0 cross at least one year without an annual entry; nothing is known about those years. Two posts held in the same years are not counted as a move.
Time in the job
- Years with an entry in the job
- 2 yearsmedian over 11 officials
- A quarter of the officials
- 4.5 years or moreupper quartile
- Most years of one official
- 18 years
Years are years with an annual entry in the job, each counted once for an official. They need not follow one another, and nothing is known about a year without an entry. With two posts in the first or last year, both count.
Who held the job
Officials of this jobWhole collection
Community
11 officials with it recorded.
Age at the first annual entry in the job
11 officials with it recorded.
Province of birth
11 officials with it recorded.
Schooling
11 officials with it recorded. An official can have several, so the shares add up to more than 100%. The groups of the schools recorded for each official.
Languages
11 officials with it recorded. An official can have several, so the shares add up to more than 100%.
Qualification
11 officials with it recorded. A diploma, certificate, training or decoration (nişan) recorded in the schooling or the work.
Officials on record each year
The same numbers as a table
| Year | Officials on record | First recorded | Annual entries |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1870/71 (AH 1287) | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 1871/72 (AH 1288) | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 1872/73 (AH 1289) | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 1873/74 (AH 1290) | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 1874/75 (AH 1291) | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 1875/76 (AH 1292) | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 1876/77 (AH 1293) | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 1877/78 (AH 1294) | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 1878 (AH 1295) | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 1879/80 (AH 1297) | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 1880/81 (AH 1298) | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 1881/82 (AH 1299) | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 1882/83 (AH 1300) | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 1883/84 (AH 1301) | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 1884/85 (AH 1302) | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 1885/86 (AH 1303) | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 1886/87 (AH 1304) | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 1887/88 (AH 1305) | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 1888/89 (AH 1306) | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| 1889/90 (AH 1307) | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 1890/91 (AH 1308) | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| 1891/92 (AH 1309) | 3 | 1 | 3 |
| 1892/93 (AH 1310) | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| 1893/94 (AH 1311) | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| 1894/95 (AH 1312) | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| 1895/96 (AH 1313) | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| 1896/97 (AH 1314) | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| 1897/98 (AH 1315) | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| 1898/99 (AH 1316) | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| 1899/1900 (AH 1317) | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| 1900/01 (AH 1318) | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 1901/02 (AH 1319) | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 1902/03 (AH 1320) | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 1903/04 (AH 1321) | 3 | 2 | 3 |
| 1904/05 (AH 1322) | 3 | 1 | 3 |
| 1905/06 (AH 1323) | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| 1906/07 (AH 1324) | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 1907/08 (AH 1325) | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 1908/09 (AH 1326) | 1 | 0 | 1 |
An official is counted once in a year. First recorded is the first year in which the collection has an annual entry of the official on this page. It is not a hiring date.
Places
| Place | Province | Officials | Annual entries | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Istanbul (Dersaadet) | Istanbul (Dersaadet) province | 9 | 37 | 1870 to 1906 |
| Galata | Istanbul (Dersaadet) province | 1 | 18 | 1891 to 1909 |
| Izmir (İzmir) | Aydın province | 1 | 1 | 1903/04 |
Ottoman officials recorded
11 officials, the one with most annual entries first.
| Official | Years | Annual entries | Kuruş a month | Birthplace |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dikran Arakilyan Efendi | 1891 to 1909 | 18 | 800 to 900 | Istanbul (Dersaadet) |
| Mustafa Efendi | 1871 to 1889 | 18 | 770 to 1,200 | Kemaliye (Eğin) |
| İsmail Hakkı Bey | 1890 to 1895 | 5 | 900 to 975 | Mytilene (Midilli) |
| Hafız Mustafa Şefik Efendi | 1895 to 1899 | 4 | 805 to 895 | Istanbul (Dersaadet) |
| Ahmet Sami Efendi | 1904 to 1906 | 2 | 800 | Shumen (Şumnu) |
| Hüseyin Hasan Efendi | 1888 to 1890 | 2 | 1,000 | Istanbul (Dersaadet) |
| İbrahim Edhem Efendi | 1903 to 1905 | 2 | 200 to 400 | Mytilene (Midilli) |
| İsmail Hakı Bey | 1890 to 1892 | 2 | 900 | Mytilene (Midilli) |
| Ali Rıza Efendi | 1903/04 | 1 | 495 | Nevşehir |
| Hüseyin Besim Efendi | 1870/71 | 1 | 550 | Kemah |
| Mehmet Ali Bey | 1899/1900 | 1 | 1,100 | Istanbul (Dersaadet) |
Years run from the first to the last annual entry. An official without a recorded name is listed after the named officials.
How to read these records: years and calendars, what first recorded means, gaps between annual entries, and salaries.
Subjects
- Pul Basmemuru
- Ottoman job titles (Osmanlı memuriyet unvanları)
- Labour history (emek tarihi)
- Salaries of officials (memur maaşları)
- Ottoman history (Osmanlı tarihi)
- Ottoman bureaucracy (Osmanlı bürokrasisi)
- Ottoman officials (Osmanlı'da memurlar)
- Ottoman personnel registers (Sicill-i Ahvâl defterleri)
- Ottoman registers (Osmanlı defterleri)