1 page, 17 x 21 in., (visible area), accomplished in manuscript, folds and scattered light foxing, bold signatures not affected by folds, unexamined out of the frame. Professionally framed, 19 x 23 in. Ship’s passport, printed in four languages giving permission to “Joshua Delano Jr., master or commander of the ship called Lydia….lying at present at the Port of Boston bound for Havana and laden with cinnamon, cheese, hoops, lard, porter, ____, and wines to depart and proceed with this said Ship on his said voyage, such Ship having been visited, and the said J Delano Jr.  having made oath before the proper officer that the said Ship belongs to one or more of the citizens of the United States of America, and to them only.” 

 

In the early days of the American republic, ships leaving US ports for foreign shores were required to have passports, and both the President and Secretary of State frequently signed these documents.