Old Petitions, Powers of Attorney and Letters

Lawyers' petitions and letters, a general power of attorney for litigation, an attorney fee agreement and an official letter of appointment: traces of professional practice and of the language of law.

First page of the 1868 document handwritten in French on blue paper with the Charles Michel letterhead

Close-up of the letterhead 'Charles Michel, Avocat, Constantinople'

Close-up of the document's date line and salutation

Close-up of the closing courtesy formula and the signature 'Ch. Michel' on the last page of the letter

First page of the French letter on Charles Michel letterhead

Close-up of the letterhead 'Charles Michel, Avocat, Constantinople' and the date line

Two inner pages of the letter, filled with handwriting

Last page of the letter, signed 'Ch. Michel'

Attorney Charles Michel's document of 1868

Date: July 16, 1868

Document in French on the letterhead of Charles Michel, an attorney practicing in Istanbul (Constantinople).

Signed letter page handwritten in French on J. Barozzi letterhead

Signed letter by Jacques Barozzi

Date: November 30, 1889

Signed letter dated 1889 by Jacques Barozzi, legal counsel to the Ottoman Bank.

Ottoman Turkish general power of attorney bearing revenue stamps and seals, with a photograph of a man in a fez attached

Photograph of the man in a fez on the power of attorney, with the seal over it

General power of attorney for litigation

Date: August 1341 (1925)

General power of attorney for litigation, printed in Ottoman script, with a photograph and seals.

Signed letter handwritten in Ottoman Turkish on Ali Galib letterhead paper

Envelope with the Ali Galib letterhead, addressed to Arif Hikmet Bey Efendi

Letter from court advocate Ali Galib to Hikmet Bey

Date: AH 1338 / AD 1919–1920

Letter from court advocate (dava vekili) Ali Galib to Hikmet Bey Efendi on a legal matter: "Efendim, gönderdiğiniz hesap kanaat-bahş değildir…" ("Sir, the account you sent is not satisfactory…")

Signed letter handwritten in Ottoman Turkish on "Avocat Ali Galib" letterhead paper

Court advocate Ali Galib's letter on rent collection

Date: 1338 (1919–1922)

Letter from court advocate (dava vekili) Ali Galib to his client about rent collection: "Ayın altısı oldu. Bedel-i îcârı (kira bedelini) müste'cirlerden (kiracılardan) istemek lazım…" ("It is already the sixth of the month. The rent must be requested from the tenants…")

Short signed letter of resignation written on Ottoman Turkish letterhead paper

Resignation petition on Attorney Muslihiddin Adil's letterhead

Date: February 27, 1341 (1925)

Resignation petition from a 1925 case file; the letterhead bears the name of Attorney Muslihiddin Adil, one of the law professors (müderris) of the Dâr-ül Fünûn, and the address 1. Vakıf Han.

Typewritten, sealed and signed letter from the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office (Müddeiumumilik), dated 5/8/929

Istanbul Chief Prosecutor's Office appointment letter

Date: August 5, 1929

Appointment letter from the Istanbul Müddeiumumilik (Chief Public Prosecutor's Office): "Derhal vazifeye mübaşeret eylemeniz lüzumu tebliğ olunur Efendim." ("You are hereby notified that you must take up your duties immediately, Sir.")

Attorney fee agreement

Date: September 21, 1950

Attorney engagement agreement dated 1950, drawn up on a pre-printed "Avukatlık Ücreti Mukavelenamesi" (Attorney Fee Agreement) form.