A curated selection of historical records from our private collection.
Tragic Accident Claims the Life of Galip Ceylani
The article reports on the untimely death of Galip Ceylani, remembered by friends and colleagues as a kind-hearted man. According to French and Turkish newspapers, Ceylani, a Turkish businessman from Ankara, was killed in a car accident near Barcelonnette in the French Alps. His vehicle reportedly veered off the road and plunged 300 meters, resulting in his immediate death. News of the accident deeply saddened his family and acquaintances back home.
Tragic Accident in the French Alps – Galip Ceylani’s Passing
Galip Ceylani, a respected Ankara businessman, lost his life in a severe car accident near Barcelonnette in the French Alps. Traveling with his wife and son Pertev—named after his late father—Ceylani’s car veered off the road and plunged into a deep ravine. The accident occurred during a return trip from holiday, when the driver reportedly lost control on a dangerous mountain curve. The tragedy deeply shook family, friends, and the Turkish business community, as Ceylani was remembered for his generosity, integrity, and close ties to many in Ankara.
14-Million Lira Inheritance Dispute Concludes
According to the report, the 14-million-lira inheritance of the late Galip Ceylani was ultimately awarded in full to his siblings, excluding his child. It was determined that during the fatal accident, Galip Ceylani’s son had also died, and therefore had no legal claim. Allegations that the child might have survived were rejected after expert examination. The court ruled in favor of the siblings, and a group of ten traveled to Germany to settle Galip Ceylani’s business affairs in Europe.
A Historical Document: Galip Ceylani and Büssing Buses in Turkey
This original archival advertisement highlights the pivotal role of Galip Ceylani, the official general importer of Büssing buses in Turkey. Featuring the renowned German brand’s “underfloor engine” models, the document promotes their use in the municipal transportation services of Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir, and Bursa.
During the mid-20th century, Büssing buses represented advanced technology, durability, and comfort. As the exclusive distributor, Galip Ceylani played a key role in modernizing public transportation in Turkey, helping major cities adopt a new standard in urban mobility.
The contact details in both Istanbul and Ankara—along with telegram and telephone information—reflect a fascinating snapshot of the commercial and communication practices of the time. This document not only illustrates the history of public transport in Turkey but also preserves the entrepreneurial legacy of Galip Ceylani in bringing world-class automotive innovations to the country.
Ethem Pertev Bey — Ottoman Diplomat in Berlin
In this historic 1917 photograph taken in Berlin, Ethem Pertev Bey stands alongside some of the most influential figures of the late Ottoman Empire. Serving as Embassy Counselor at the Ottoman Embassy in Berlin, Edhem Bey played a crucial role in maintaining the flow of communication between the Ottoman Grand Vizier, Talaat Pasha, the Ottoman Ambassador Hakki Pasha, and embassy officials.
At a time when the Ottoman Empire and the German Empire were allied during the First World War, Edhem Pertev Bey’s diplomatic service represented the delicate balance of wartime negotiations, political strategy, and state representation abroad.
This image, originally published in Die Woche in 1917, captures a defining moment of Ottoman-German relations, where Ethem Bey is recognized as a key member of the embassy staff supporting high-level state affairs in Berlin.
Orhan Tufan — Member of IFSDA
This document highlights Orhan Tufan as a registered member of the International Federation of Stamp Dealers Associations (IFSDA), the world’s leading professional body for philatelic trade.
Operating under the title “Pul Ticareti” (Stamp Trade), Orhan Tufan specialized in the buying and selling of postage stamps, both for collectors and for wholesale distribution. His business was located in Beyoğlu, Istanbul, at a time when philately represented not only a cultural passion but also an international commercial activity bridging East and West.
The multilingual references on the document (Briefmarken, Post Stamps, Timbres-Poste en Gros) reflect the global reach of Orhan Tufan’s trade, serving a wide network of collectors and dealers across Europe and beyond.
This rare archival piece stands as a testament to his role in the philatelic world, linking Istanbul’s vibrant commercial life to the international community of stamp collectors in the mid-20th century.
Büssing Buses Bound for Istanbul — 1957
This rare historical photograph captures a convoy of Büssing buses in Augsburg, Germany, in 1957, being loaded onto freight wagons for delivery to Istanbul, Turkey.
At the time, Galip Ceylani served as the official representative of Büssing in Turkey—the term “distributor” was not yet in common Turkish usage. The destination signs on the buses read “TÜRKEI – ISTANBUL”, with additional markings on the windshield proudly announcing “Istanbul” as their final destination.
These vehicles symbolized a new era of modernization and international collaboration in Turkish urban transport. Their arrival marked one of the early milestones in Istanbul’s transition to a contemporary public transportation network, bridging post-war European engineering with Turkey’s growing metropolitan vision.