Description:

Three Large Passports Signed By Secretaries of State Seward, Webster, and Cass

Three large decorative US passports, granting safe passage for the bearer, reading "…to permit safely and freely to pass [bearer's name], a Citizen of the United States and in case of need to give him all lawful Aid and Protection." All have the descriptive characteristics of the person running along the left margin, some of which would be considered quite odd by today's standards. However, as there is no accompanying photo, the description clearly became more necessary:

1) William Seward Signed Passport: 1p partially printed of a bifolium, measuring 11.25" x 16.25", Washington D.C., dated July 28, 1863. Signed "William H. Seward." No. 11140, granted to "Anthony Gilkison", who has countersigned the document. Described as:

Age 38 years
Stature 6 Feet 0 Inches Engh.
Forehead High
Eyes Blue
Nose Grecian
Mouth Middling
Chin Round
Hair Light Brown
Complexion Fair
Face Oval

2) Daniel Webster Signed Passport: 1p partially printed of a bifolium, measuring 11" x 16.5", Washington D.C., dated September 6, 1852. Signed "Danl Webster." No. 4920, granted to "Anthony Gilkison", who has countersigned the document. Described as:

Age 27 years
Stature 6 Feet 1 Inches Engh.
Forehead Prominent
Eyes Hazel
Nose Aquiline
Mouth Small
Chin Round
Hair Light Brown
Complexion Fair
Face Oval

3) Lewis Cass Signed Passport: 1p partially printed of a bifolium, measuring 11.25" x 18", Washington D.C., dated May 1, 1858. Signed "Lew Cass." No. 6914, granted to "Abraham Bruggerhof", who has countersigned the document. On the second page is a German stamp, dated May 6, 1858. Described as:

Age 65 years
Stature 5 Feet 7 Inches Engh.
Forehead High
Eyes Grey
Nose Prominent
Mouth Medium
Chin Round
Hair Grey mixed
Complexion Light
Face Round

An intriguing look into passports from another era. It is interesting to note that descriptions of Gilkison's appearance differ over the eleven years between his two passports, such as his eye color. All three documents have flattened folds, two of the three have holes at some of the cross folds. Small tears at some of the edges. Varying degrees of light toning and minor spots of soiling. All have bold signatures.

William H. Seward (1801-1872) was born in New York and educated as a lawyer. Elected to the U.S. Senate as a Whig in 1849 by the legislature, Seward won re-election in 1855 and soon joined the Republican Party. By 1860, he was considered the leading presidential candidate for the Republican Party, but opposition from other parts of the Republican coalition gave the nomination to Abraham Lincoln of Illinois. After Lincoln won the 1860 election, he asked Seward to serve as his Secretary of State. Daniel Webster (1782-1852) was an American lawyer and statesman who served as the U.S. Secretary of State under Presidents William Henry Harrison, John Tyler, and Millard Fillmore. Lewis Cass (1782-1866) served as U.S. Ambassador to France under President Andrew Jackson and Secretary of State under James Buchanan.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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May 26, 2021 10:30 AM EDT
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