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Image of American passport

American Passport

  • Legation of the United States of America to Great Britain passport No 89
  • Issued to William Story, age 41
  • 24 July 1815
  • Engraved by E Butler, Crooked Lane, London
  • Watermarked Phipps & Son 1811
  • 250 x 400mm (10 x 15¾in)
  •  

London issued early American passport, by the would-later to-become US president, John Quincy Adams, who arrived in London in 1815 following the resumption of diplomatic ties between the two countries after the 1812 war.

He issued a total of 632 passports during his post from 1815 to 1817 and is considered to be one of the first to issue pre-printed passports abroad.

Neil Kaplan

 

 

This regular feature shows special items from members’ own collections. Submissions by email should include a scan of the item.