1832 PRESIDENTIAL SAFE PASSAGE DOCUMENT, ANDREW JACKSON
dated 1832, on vellum with two engraved maritime scenes at top; an affixed U.S. paper seal lower left; the scalloped top edge of the passport shows that the top portion had been cut and sent ahead to be matched when the ship arrived; 15 by 11.25 in.
By the President of the United States of America/SUFFER the Ship Undine of Duxbury...TO PASS with her Company Passengers Goods and Merchandize without any hinderance...Given under my Hand and the Seal of the United States of America the 23rd day of January in the year of our Lord thousand eight hundred and thirty two...signed in brown ink Andrew Jackson; and Martin VanBuren Secretary of State
Ships' passports were used for US vessels sailing in the Mediterranean. The passports resulted from an agreement in 1795 to allow the passage of ships in return for payments to the Barbary "pirates." The states of the Barbary Coast of North Africa (Tripoli, Algiers, Morocco, Tunis) were controlled by sultans who demanded annual tribute in exchange for safe passage. Ship' cargo, crew and the ship itself could be taken for ransom or enslavement without passports as proof of payment. America was one of the countries who agreed to pay for safe passage.
Prov. Captain David Cushman, Jr. (1807-1878) Duxbury, MA
Fold creases; otherwise in very good condition.
Estimate: $800 - $1,200
Realized: $1,000 - Excluding Buyer's Premium
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Lot 183 : 1832 PRESIDENTIAL SAFE PASSAGE DOCUMENT, ANDREW JACKSON
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