Ottoman Empire | Ottoman Firman, AH 1327 [1909] with a Hejaz Railway medal, AH 1318 [1900]

Ottoman Empire

Ottoman Firman to Captain Ismail Hakki Effendi, AH 1327/1909; together with Hejaz Railway medal, AH 1318/1900

i) Ottoman Turkish manuscript on paper (570 x 320mm.), crowned with the tughra of sultan Mehmed V Reshad, text in black and gold, relating to Captain Ismail Hakki Effendi, wear along fold lines, some ink offsetting

ii) Cupro-nickel medal (30mm), tughra and steam locomotive surrounded by wreath / Arabic inscription, pierced at 12 o’clock, green ribbon, in later brown jewellery box, medal slightly oxidised

The firman was issued during the reign of Mehmed V Resad, the penultimate Ottoman Sultan, whose reign had begun the year the document was produced.

The Hejaz Railway began construction in 1901, aiming to provide a safe transport route for pilgrims to Mecca and Medina (see Lot 64). It was funded entirely by Muslim subjects, and voluntary donations were rewarded with medals like the example under question. They were mainly cupro-nickel, but sometimes issued in gold or silver. The ribbons were initially red, but later this was switched to green, and they were worn as a symbol of Muslim unity. The railway was bereft with problems from the outset, with construction conditions being extremely harsh. During World War I, it became the target of both Arab rebels and T.E. Lawrence, which led to the ultimate collapse of the project.