1805 MEDITERRANEAN PASSPORT SIGNED BY PRESIDENT THOMAS JEFFERSON.

1805 MEDITERRANEAN PASSPORT SIGNED BY PRESIDENT THOMAS JEFFERSON. This passport is for the “Brigantine Little Cherub”. The document is number 82 and signed by James Madison, State of New Hampshire, District of Portsmouth, Countersigned by Joseph Whipple. The unusual aspect of this particular document is that it includes the cut off top. NOTE: Our first treaty with Algiers required all our ships trading to or near the Mediterranean to carry a passport signed by the President for identification against capture. As the Corsairs could not read English the tops of the documents were cut off with a dye, all alike. Tops were sent to Algiers and our counsul issued them to the Corsairs thus they could be fitted to the passport when it was submitted by the Captain. The passport has an engraved lighthouse on rock with several ships. Housed in a modern black frame. NOTE: This lot also includes an extra top which the consuls would have been given and it was found amongst the papers of this lot. A truly rare find. SIZE: Sight with top 19-1/4″ x 11-1/2″. CONDITION: Missing wax seal, hand written sections are light. The velum is wrinkled and toned throughout. Signatures are light and also discernible but part of the wrinkling. 9-97940 (1,000-2,000)

Auction: Fine Art, Antiques & Asian - Winter 2010

Please Note: All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

Image	Lot	Price	Description
	2120	$27,600.00	1805 MEDITERRANEAN PASSPORT SIGNED BY PRESIDENT THOMAS JEFFERSON. This passport is for the “Brigantine Little Cherub”. The document is number 82 and signed by James Madison, State of New Hampshire, District of Portsmouth, Countersigned by Joseph Whipple. The unusual aspect of this particular document is that it includes the cut off top. NOTE: Our first treaty with Algiers required all our ships trading to or near the Mediterranean to carry a passport signed by the President for identification against capture. As the Corsairs could not read English the tops of the documents were cut off with a dye, all alike. Tops were sent to Algiers and our counsul issued them to the Corsairs thus they could be fitted to the passport when it was submitted by the Captain. The passport has an engraved lighthouse on rock with several ships. Housed in a modern black frame. NOTE: This lot also includes an extra top which the consuls would have been given and it was found amongst the papers of this lot. A truly rare find. SIZE: Sight with top 19-1/4″ x 11-1/2″. CONDITION: Missing wax seal, hand written sections are light. The velum is wrinkled and toned throughout. Signatures are light and also discernible but part of the wrinkling. 9-97940 (1,000-2,000) Auction: Fine Art, Antiques & Asian - Winter 2010 Please Note: All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

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