AN OTTOMAN FIRMAN OF SULTAN ABDULAZIZ (R.1861-76), OTTOMAN TURKEY, DATED RABI II 1285/JULI 1868 AD

Manuscript on paper, Ink and gold on burnished paper, with 7 lines of alternating elegant gold and black diwani script, a monogram and a signature line in gold diwani on a ground of gold dots, the large gold tughra of Ottoman Sultan Abdulaziz at the top.
62 by 135 cm.

Calligrapher: Mehmed Şevket Vahdeti Efendi, Birth Date : 1249AH/ 1833AD, Death Date: 1288AH/ 1871AD, Birth Place: istanbul Grave Place: istanbul.

As the son of Hacı Nuri Efendi. He was 13 years old when his father died, while he was the Governor of Tekirdağ. He received He received his diploma (ijazetname) in 1860-1861. Based on his beautiful calligraphy, he was asked to write Süleyman Şevket Pasha's viziership manuscript in celi divani, and was honored with the compliment of Grand Vizier Mustafa Reşîd Pasha. He was rewarded with the rank of officer of the Dîvân-ı Hümâyûn Engagement Office. Upon the accession of Sultan Abdülazîz, He was responsible for arranging his signature, 500 liras were granted and the Mecîdî Medal of the fifth rank was conferred. In 1863, he was sent to Paris with the task of making molds for stamps that would be used instead of authentic documents. He passed away on March 13, 1871, when he was only 38 years old because of cirrhosis.