Cards like this were made to display in dark places. No idea of age, ~early 1900s, but this unused card is in excellent condition both front and back. And, if we may say, ultra-atmospheric and exotic. Grade: 1

Technically this could be under “Malaysia” since it was issued in conjunction with the 1990 World of Islamic Civilization Expo there.  Two cards are available, each mailed in Malaysia in 1991.  One has a Perak stamp and a rare double postmark from two different cities (Grade: 2, $6).  The other has a Pulau Pinang stamp (Grade: 1, $4).   Caption says this card portrays “Silver case containing sand sample from the grave of Prophet Muhammad S.A.W. Topkapi Museum, Istanbul.” One perforated edge on each card.

 

 

We weren’t sure where to classify this. The Al-Hajar Al-Aswad capsule belongs to Topkapi Museum in Turkey but is pictured on a World of Islamic Civilization Expo 1990 card from Malaysia. Card was mailed in Malaysia in 1990, one Sabah stamp and full postmark. Minor abrasion on reverse.  Grade: 3

Actually this card comes from the 1990 World of Islamic Civilization Expo in Malaysia, but as it features a Turkish property, the card goes here. Mailed in Malaysia in 1991, the card is 4″ x 7″ due to an extra perforated stub on the left side. Grade: 2

Disclaimer:  the item (and photo) are from Topkapi Museum, the card was printed and issued in Malaysia in connection with the 1990 World of Islamic Civilization Expo.  Mailed in 1991 with Negeri Sembilan stamp and partial postmark, the card has a perforated edge where the non-card stub was removed.  Grade: 4

The card is contemporary, the location definitely not.  Google provides this:  Constantine the Great reputedly built the original cistern on this site, with the current one being enlarged and rebuilt by Justinian in 532. It was known as the Basilica Cistern after the Stoa Basilica, which used to stand above it.  As for the 4-3/4″ x 6-5/8″ card, we have two of them.  One was mailed with a postage meter in 2010 (Grade: 1, $3).  The other is unused (Grade: 1, $2). 

Unused and heavily aged old card.  Grade: 3

Unused, aged card with a major abrasion in the front centre.  Grade: 5

Issued by PTT (Turkish Post) with stamp, clear Istanbul postmark, and address label affixed.  That’s the Bosporus Bridge in the background.  Grade: 3

Sender had some trouble writing, so there is white correction fluid in the message area, and address label affixed, along with stamp and partial Istanbul postmark.  Grade: 4

We want to say “not postally used” but there are remnants of postmarks even though no sign whatever of stamps.  Message and address on the reverse.  Grade: 4

Mailed in 1939 with stamp and postmark.  Creased horizontally through the middle.  Grade: 3

This 4-3/4″ x 6-3/4″ card was mailed from Malaysia (not Turkey!) in 2013, with stamp and postmark.  The five sites on the front are identified in the caption on the reverse, and include Aziziye Mosque in Konya, and Bodrum Castle in Mugla.  Grade: 3

This is an unused blue-tinted card (“N.1135 – E.F. Rochaf – Constantinople.  Editions d’Art de l’Orient.  Obtenu sur plaque Guilleminot”).  Grade: 1

If you were in Istanbul, this unused card would cost much more.  Grade: 2

Unused card.  The full caption reads:  “The view of Leander’s Tower, Trought of the Judaea’s Trees”.   Grade: 1 (We must verify availability)

Unused card, clean and unmarked but handled a few times.  Grade: 2

Two cards are available.  On one, obvious postal battering on this card mailed in 2014, with stamp and postmark (Grade: 3, $1).  The other is unused (Grade: 1, $1).

Unused card.  Grade: 1

Unused Keskin card 34/996.  Grade: 1