Turkey. ★★/★/⊙. Outstanding collection of 1000s of stamps, all one of a kind, housed in two well filled albums, from the Tughras onwards of 1863, both mint and used, both thin and thick papers, also accompanied by the postage dues of 1863. Every page is well written up and the 'crescent and star' Duloz issues of 1865 definitives are beautifully presented both mint and used including multiples and an expansive array of shades, the same applies to the postage dues from 1865 with the best written up range of perf varieties we have ever seen. A similar pattern emerges with the Duloz 1867 issues, accompanied by an interesting range of stamps that were prepared but not issued. Then the 1868 Constantinople types with much attention paid to all the different shades, etc, not forgetting the Lianos issues both perf and imperf and small horizontal format 1865/66. Then follows the 1870/82 types with the various different coloured hand stamps and a rather unusual type III latin inscription, as well as postal history from 1865 through to 1870s used and then a good range of mint p.stationery and reply cards, again all one of a kind. Then follows the 1876 types mint to 25pi inc imperf, followed by 1884/6 to 25pi, various mint imperfs of the same again through to 25pi, as well as colour changes and different papers to 25pi high value. As is keeping with the collection, the postage dues of these years both perf and imperf and in multiples are present. Next the 1890 issues complete mint, as well imperf high values, with the 1891/92 newspaper stamps seemingly complete including expertisation, as well as much material unlisted and a good reference collection written up accordingly. Then again this is followed by the postage dues seemingly complete and the military posts, through to turn of the century, page after page of completion inc much back of the book and basic good sets such as the 1908 foreign correspondence and granting of constitution complete mint, as well as the 1909 o/ps accession issues on to Mehmed V 50pi mint, the Macedonia issues, yet further postage dues, followed by the 1914 issues to 200pi and the same surcharge 1915. This is all in the first volume! The second volume is just as interesting as the first, again with hardly any empty spaces through to the end of the Ottoman Empire with a special extensive range of the provisional issues from 1865 onwards with many seldom seen stamps here as well, ending with yet further back of the book inc Tripoli and Balkan wars 1911/12, etc. A remarkable collection, a lifetimes work, completely uncatalogued but we estimate will be in the order of €40,000 to €50,000.