Passports & Their History

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HISTORICAL PASSPORTS – YES, THE WORLD IS FLAT…
…at least if you look at all the different country stamps in a passport, but there is much more to explore when it comes to PASSPORT COLLECTING.

You can collect also OLD OBSOLETE (HISTORICAL) PASSPORTS. This guideline gives you a first impression on WHY & WHAT to collect and WHERE to find your documents for your collection. There are of course many different answers to the big 3 W’s – let me tell you mine…

PASSPORT COLLECTING is nothing new but it has a rather “small & exclusive community” compared to coin or stamp collectors.

WHY do I collect passports?
For me an old passport is a piece of ART beside it shows the (travel) history of its bearer. Imagine, who was travelling 70-80 years ago to countries like China, Japan and India? Only business man or wealthy people did, as travelling was much more complex as it is today. For ordinary people it was pure luxury to travel. Now go even more back in time – 100, 150 or 200 years. Who was travelling then? 100 years ago each passport was unique due to the passport picture, handwriting, border stamps and colorful revenue stamps. Today passports are standardized and you can’t even smile anymore on your passport picture. I do have documents in my collection which I bought only because of the unusual or artful passport picture (e.g. girl playing a guitar, ladies & men with hats etc.). Impossible today!

WHAT to collect?
Well, this topic is broad but I would recommend to limit your desire (and money) and focus your passion e.g. on a country, a period or smaller (but more difficult) on a grand duchy, specific stamps or visa…others collecting diplomatic passports only (very difficult). I do collect “German documents”. My oldest passport is handwritten by a German duchess in 1646 and comes with a wonderful and complete wax seal.

WHERE to find old passports?
As source to start or extend your collection I have to mention eBay even they have strict rules on offering government documents. Please check your local eBay site for more information. I made some great findings there. Secondly visit your local flea or antique markets, garage sales. Also there you might be lucky.

Is passport collecting LEGAL?
To say it clear “THERE IS NOTHING ILLEGAL” (As long it’s an old, obsolete one and for collecting/research purpose only). For further reading please visit my website especially “About – Legal Notice” section.

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Tom Topol is an expert for passports & their history and editor of www.passport-collector.com. He is studying this topic for almost 15 years and is consulting collectors, museums, foundations and news media worldwide when it comes to historical passports and passport history. Tom can be contacted via his website or directly via passportcollector@gmail.com. Visit his website to learn more about passports & their history.

More info: passport-collector.com