Very Good Turkish, Ottoman (1500-1928) Original manuscript paper. 40x28 cm. In Ottoman script. 2 p. Mehmed Emin Rauf Pasha was an Ottoman industrialist and statesman, who was Grand Vizier of the Ottoman Empire twice under Mahmud II (reign 1808-1839) and three times under Abdülmecit I (reign 1839-1861) during the Tanzimat period of reformation. He was one of the most prominent figures in funding the Crimean War. According to Shaw and Shaw, Mehmed Emin Rauf Pasha and his predecessor, Mustafa Resit Pasha, "acted mainly as mediators" for Mahmud II, "attempting to balance conflicting interests while participating in the factional activities and disputes endemic in Ottoman governmental life.". Buyuruldu (or Buyrultu, Buyurildi, Buyurdu etc.) is the order of an Ottoman grand vizier, vizier, beglerbegi , defterdâr , or other high officials to a subordinate. The term is derived from the word 'buyuruldi', it has been ordered, in which the order usually ends and which gradually developed into a conventional sign. Buyuruldus are of two main types: a) decisions written in the margin (der kenâr) of an incoming petition or report, often ordering that a fermân (firman) (or berât , etc.) be issued to a certain effect... (Brill, Encyclopedia of Islam). "Menzils" were early post organizations in the Ottoman Empire before the Reform period. In the Ottoman Empire, every 35 kilometers - the distance one could travel in a day - on the main roads, there were buildings called "menzil" or "menzilhane" (destination, post station). Surrounded by walls, these yards had a hostelry, barn, market, bath, and restaurant. Hosted at the complex for free, travelers shopped, took baths and fed their animals, and continued their journeys the following day. At the complex, officials - registered and paid by the state - served the guests. Within time, menzils turned into bazaars where locals sold their products. Then, villages and towns started to pop up around them. Commodities needed by the army for expeditions were preserved at menzils and soldiers were accommodated at these facilities if needed during expeditions. Mailmen operating between two faraway destinations changed their horses with those waiting at menzils and went on their route without losing time. (Source: Ekrem Bugra Ekinci). It's written on paper with 'ahar'. Used black ink only. It includes approx. 63 lines on front and verso of the paper and two buyuruldus. Different calligraphic "riq'a" styles by different bureaucrats and Grand Vizier and owner of a petition (Bende, Osman). Grand vizier's handwriting is in 'diwanî' script. An extremely rare autograph manuscript is a good example of the Ottoman state organization in the early 19th century.
