Martin van Buren – Mediterranean sea pass for the Barque Bruce of Fairhaven (Mass), mastered by Silas P. Alden. Van Buren signs as president with countersignatures of Secretary of State John Forsyth and the collector for the Port of New Bedford (Mass). It is dated September 8, 1840, which would have been when it was issued to Alden. Passes like this were signed by the presidents in blank and then sent to ports later use. The engravings on top with scalloped edges are crisply engraved, making this an eye-catching document.
The pass shows even browning throughout and some damp staining on the back yet still visually appealing with a complete white seal and unusually strong, dark signatures by van Buren and Forsyth. There is blotting of the ink on the “ru” of van Buren.
[#6497]
Martin van Buren – Mediterranean sea pass for the Barque Bruce of Fairhaven (Mass), mastered by Silas P. Alden. Van Buren signs as president with countersignatures of Secretary of State John Forsyth and the collector for the Port of New Bedford (Mass). It is dated September 8, 1840, which would have been when it was issued to Alden. Passes like this were signed by the presidents in blank and then sent to ports later use. The engravings on top with scalloped edges are crisply engraved, making this an eye-catching document.
The pass shows even browning throughout and some damp staining on the back yet still visually appealing with a complete white seal and unusually strong, dark signatures by van Buren and Forsyth. There is blotting of the ink on the “ru” of van Buren.
[#6497]