Osman Efendi

The life of Osman Efendi began in Çemişgezek in 1855/56 (AH 1272). Osman began work in 1870/71, at about 15. The annual lists begin in 1870/71, with Osman as Telgraf Mektebi mülazımı and no place named. Alongside, the lists for 1876/77 give a second post, in Istanbul as İstanbul merkezi tahsilat kalemi memuru. Alongside, the lists for 1876/77 give a second post, in Çamlıca as Muvakkat muhabere memuru. Next came Edirne from 1877 to 1878. Alongside, the lists for 1878 give a second post, in Gelibolu as Muvakkat muhabere memuru. Alongside, the lists for 1878 to 1880 give a second post, in Shkodër as Muvakkat muhabere memuru. Alongside, the lists for 1879 to 1883 give a second post, in Keşan as Sermuhabere memuru. The last posts were in Serres (Siroz) from 1905 to 1907. In place of a title the lists give Infisal for 1879/80. Seven places on two continents in all, a number reached by fewer than 6 per cent of the 6,605 officials with a place of service.

Pay rose from 30 kuruş a month in 1874/75 to a peak of 1,000 in 1905/06, in Serres, when four in five paid officials earned less. Over 26 years the salaries add up to 205,440 kuruş, 1.6 times what an official on the median salary earned. The last annual entry is for 1906/07.