The historical city of Istanbul is surrounded by sea and land walls, and the headland of Topkapý Palace lies at the point where the Marmara Sea, the Bosphorus and the Golden Horn meet. In antiquity the Acropolis of Byzantium stood here, which was regarded as the first of the city's seven hills. Before Topkapý Palace was built there was an olive grove on the headland. This postcard shows Topkapý Palace and the entrance to the Golden Horn, which formed the city's great natural harbour. The postcard was sent from Istanbul to Sofia, and who knows how or when it found its way back to Istanbul.

The postmark reads 'Dersaadet [Istanbul] 28.11.1902, 13.9.1318', and was addressed in French to Sadullah Ferid Bey, a clerk at the Ottoman Commissioner's office in Bulgaria. The cryptic message, which could be regarded as an e-mail of the period, suggests an interesting story which we will never know about. It reads 'Dear Sa'di, Thank you for your letter which I received yesterday evening. I will write a detailed letter soon. How well you argue in your favour my dear fellow. You truly deserve to be congratulated. All your friends are in good health. Fethi.'