Job title
Sef
Group of job titles: General office staff
Stored spellings: sef
16 officials held the job title Sef. Its 70 annual entries run from 1869 to 1907 (AH 1286 to 1324). The median of the 70 recorded monthly salaries is 730 kuruş, against 500 kuruş for the whole collection in the same years. The median entry paid 1.3 times the collection median of its year. On average an official was paid more than 72 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 4 or more. It was the first title on record for 6 per cent of the officials and the last for 25 per cent. The entries name 18 places. The place with the largest number of officials is Edirne, with 2.
- Officials
- 16
- Years on recordAH 1286 to 1324, 38 years with an entry
- 1869 to 1907
- Median monthly salary1.33× the collection median of the same years (500 kuruş)
- 730 kuruş
- Places with officials
- 18
- First job title on recordfor 1 of the 16 officials
- 6%
Profile of the group: General office staff
No source read describes Sef by itself, so this is the profile of its group of job titles.
General titles of officials that name no particular office. In the offices of the nineteenth century a mülazım was a supernumerary or apprentice; in the Post and Telegraph service most officials began so and worked for years without a salary.
History
From 1879 a commission of the Ministry of the Interior (Sicill-i Ahval Komisyonu) recorded the careers of civil and judicial officials; it gathered about 92,000 records of service in 200 registers.
Sources
- Findley, Carter V. (1980). Bureaucratic Reform in the Ottoman Empire: The Sublime Porte, 1789-1922. Princeton: Princeton University Press.Pages or part: 81-82. Used for: summary.
- 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: Sections I and II. Used for: summary.
- İpşirli, Mehmet (1993). Dahiliye Nezâreti. TDV İslâm Ansiklopedisi, vol. 8, 414-416. Online copy (read 14 October 2026).Pages or part: 415. Used for: history.
Monthly salary each year
The same numbers as a table
| Year | Recorded salaries | Median | Mean | Lower quartile | Upper quartile | Median of the whole collection |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1869/70 | 2 | 1,150 | 1,150 | 975 | 1,325 | 600 |
| 1870/71 | 2 | 1,130 | 1,130 | 945 | 1,315 | 600 |
| 1871/72 | 2 | 730 | 730 | 715 | 745 | 550 |
| 1872/73 | 1 | 700 | 700 | 700 | 700 | 550 |
| 1873/74 | 1 | 700 | 700 | 700 | 700 | 500 |
| 1874/75 | 1 | 700 | 700 | 700 | 700 | 535 |
| 1875/76 | 1 | 700 | 700 | 700 | 700 | 530 |
| 1876/77 | 1 | 700 | 700 | 700 | 700 | 575 |
| 1877/78 | 1 | 700 | 700 | 700 | 700 | 560 |
| 1878/79 | 2 | 1,000 | 1,000 | 900 | 1,100 | 600 |
| 1879/80 | 2 | 880 | 880 | 820 | 940 | 500 |
| 1880/81 | 2 | 880 | 880 | 820 | 940 | 500 |
| 1881/82 | 2 | 880 | 880 | 820 | 940 | 500 |
| 1882/83 | 2 | 880 | 880 | 820 | 940 | 500 |
| 1883/84 | 3 | 1,000 | 866.67 | 800 | 1,000 | 500 |
| 1884/85 | 2 | 800 | 800 | 700 | 900 | 500 |
| 1885/86 | 2 | 800 | 800 | 700 | 900 | 500 |
| 1886/87 | 2 | 800 | 800 | 700 | 900 | 500 |
| 1887/88 | 1 | 600 | 600 | 600 | 600 | 500 |
| 1888/89 | 2 | 750 | 750 | 675 | 825 | 500 |
| 1889/90 | 2 | 750 | 750 | 675 | 825 | 500 |
| 1890/91 | 2 | 750 | 750 | 675 | 825 | 500 |
| 1891/92 | 2 | 750 | 750 | 675 | 825 | 500 |
| 1892/93 | 4 | 900 | 900 | 675 | 1,125 | 500 |
| 1893/94 | 4 | 950 | 925 | 750 | 1,125 | 500 |
| 1894/95 | 2 | 850 | 850 | 725 | 975 | 500 |
| 1895/96 | 1 | 600 | 600 | 600 | 600 | 500 |
| 1896/97 | 1 | 540 | 540 | 540 | 540 | 500 |
| 1897/98 | 2 | 585 | 585 | 562.5 | 607.5 | 500 |
| 1898/99 | 2 | 585 | 585 | 562.5 | 607.5 | 500 |
| 1899/1900 | 3 | 540 | 570 | 540 | 585 | 500 |
| 1900/01 | 2 | 540 | 540 | 540 | 540 | 500 |
| 1901/02 | 1 | 540 | 540 | 540 | 540 | 500 |
| 1902/03 | 3 | 600 | 666.67 | 600 | 700 | 500 |
| 1903/04 | 1 | 600 | 600 | 600 | 600 | 475 |
| 1904/05 | 1 | 800 | 800 | 800 | 800 | 450 |
| 1905/06 | 2 | 1,200 | 1,200 | 1,050 | 1,350 | 475 |
| 1906/07 | 1 | 1,500 | 1,500 | 1,500 | 1,500 | 450 |
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
16 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 (44%) are in the band 500 to 750 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 | 0 | 0% | 18% |
| 400 to 500 | 0 | 0% | 17% |
| 500 to 750 | 7 | 44% | 23% |
| 750 to 1,000 | 5 | 31% | 5% |
| 1,000 to 1,500 | 4 | 25% | 4% |
| 1,500 to 2,500 | 0 | 0% | 2% |
| 2,500 and more | 0 | 0% | 1% |
The median of the 70 recorded monthly salaries of this job is 730 kuruş. In the same years the whole collection paid a median of 500 kuruş. The median entry paid 1.33× the collection median of its year, and the middle half of the entries between 1.2× and 2×. On average an official of this job was paid more than 72% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Edirne | 2 | |
| Mersin | 2 | |
| Preveza (Preveze) | 2 | |
| Trabzon | 2 | |
| Aleppo (Halep) | 1 | |
| Basra | 1 | |
| Beyoğlu | 1 | |
| Gelibolu | 1 | |
| Giresun | 1 | |
| Ioannina (Yanya) | 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 Sef. Pay: the change on moving from that title to Sef. The 8 titles with most officials, of 17 moves in all.
Held just after
The title of the entries just after a run of Sef. Pay: the change on moving from Sef to that title. The 7 titles with most officials, of 14 moves in all.
Of the 29 moves shown, 7 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
- 2.5 yearsmedian over 16 officials
- A quarter of the officials
- 4 years or moreupper quartile
- Most years of one official
- 19 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
16 officials with it recorded.
Age at the first annual entry in the job
16 officials with it recorded.
Province of birth
16 officials with it recorded. 1 other value not shown.
Schooling
16 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
15 officials with it recorded. An official can have several, so the shares add up to more than 100%.
Qualification
16 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1869/70 (AH 1286) | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| 1870/71 (AH 1287) | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| 1871/72 (AH 1288) | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| 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 |
| 1878/79 (AH 1296) | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| 1879/80 (AH 1297) | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| 1880/81 (AH 1298) | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| 1881/82 (AH 1299) | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| 1882/83 (AH 1300) | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| 1883/84 (AH 1301) | 3 | 1 | 3 |
| 1884/85 (AH 1302) | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| 1885/86 (AH 1303) | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| 1886/87 (AH 1304) | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| 1887/88 (AH 1305) | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 1888/89 (AH 1306) | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| 1889/90 (AH 1307) | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| 1890/91 (AH 1308) | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| 1891/92 (AH 1309) | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| 1892/93 (AH 1310) | 4 | 3 | 4 |
| 1893/94 (AH 1311) | 4 | 0 | 4 |
| 1894/95 (AH 1312) | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| 1895/96 (AH 1313) | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 1896/97 (AH 1314) | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 1897/98 (AH 1315) | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| 1898/99 (AH 1316) | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| 1899/1900 (AH 1317) | 3 | 1 | 3 |
| 1900/01 (AH 1318) | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| 1901/02 (AH 1319) | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 1902/03 (AH 1320) | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| 1903/04 (AH 1321) | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 1904/05 (AH 1322) | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 1905/06 (AH 1323) | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| 1906/07 (AH 1324) | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Edirne | Edirne province | 2 | 16 | 1871 to 1887 |
| Mersin | Adana province | 2 | 5 | 1869 to 1900 |
| Preveza (Preveze) | Ioannina (Yanya) province | 2 | 2 | 1902 to 1904 |
| Trabzon | Trabzon province | 2 | 2 | 1902 to 1905 |
| Kavala | Thessaloniki (Selanik) province | 1 | 15 | 1887 to 1902 |
| Keşan | Edirne province | 1 | 4 | 1879 to 1883 |
| Mytilene (Midilli) | Archipelago (Cezayir-i Bahr-i Sefid) province | 1 | 4 | 1883 to 1887 |
| Sirkeci | Istanbul (Dersaadet) province | 1 | 4 | 1888 to 1892 |
| Jerusalem (Kudüs) | Jerusalem (Kudüs) province | 1 | 3 | 1892 to 1895 |
| Samawah (Semave) | Baghdad (Bağdat) province | 1 | 3 | 1869 to 1872 |
| Aleppo (Halep) | Aleppo (Halep) province | 1 | 2 | 1905 to 1907 |
| Beyoğlu | Istanbul (Dersaadet) province | 1 | 2 | 1892 to 1894 |
| Giresun | Trabzon province | 1 | 2 | 1899 to 1901 |
| Konya | Konya province | 1 | 2 | 1892 to 1894 |
| Basra | Basra province | 1 | 1 | 1883/84 |
| Gelibolu | Edirne province | 1 | 1 | 1902/03 |
| Ioannina (Yanya) | Ioannina (Yanya) province | 1 | 1 | 1878/79 |
| Vlorë (Avlonya) | Ioannina (Yanya) province | 1 | 1 | 1905/06 |
Ottoman officials recorded
16 officials, the one with most annual entries first.
| Official | Years | Annual entries | Kuruş a month | Birthplace |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dorkani Efendi | 1883 to 1902 | 19 | 540 to 600 | Edirne |
| Ohannes Bogosyan Efendi | 1869 to 1883 | 14 | 700 to 800 | Istanbul (Dersaadet) |
| Nikola Efendi | 1878 to 1887 | 9 | 1,000 to 1,200 | Istanbul (Dersaadet) |
| Ohannes Abramiyan Efendi | 1888 to 1892 | 4 | 900 | Istanbul (Dersaadet) |
| Tavik Besim Efendi | 1869 to 1884 | 4 | 760 to 1,500 | Baghdad (Bağdat) |
| Tursun Pol Efendi | 1892 to 1907 | 4 | 1,200 to 1,500 | Istanbul (Dersaadet) |
| Balizar Efendi | 1897 to 1900 | 3 | 630 | Aleppo (Halep) |
| Osman Nuri Efendi | 1892 to 1895 | 3 | 1,100 | Istanbul (Dersaadet) |
| Atnaşyadi Efendi | 1892 to 1894 | 2 | 700 to 800 | Leskovik |
| Osman Nurettin Bey | 1899 to 1901 | 2 | 540 | Istanbul (Dersaadet) |
| Abbas Rüştü Efendi | 1902/03 | 1 | 800 | Yozgat |
| Ali İrfan Efendi | 1904/05 | 1 | 800 | Pomorie (Ahyolu) |
| Mişel Mihail Nahle(?) Efendi | 1905/06 | 1 | 900 | Jaffa (Yafa) |
| Mustafa İzzet Efendi | 1902/03 | 1 | 600 | Istanbul (Dersaadet) |
| Oseb Eğerciyan Efendi | 1902/03 | 1 | 600 | Istanbul (Dersaadet) |
| Yasef Kasuti Efendi | 1903/04 | 1 | 600 | Çanakkale |
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.