"MikeS" <archangel@heaven.com> ha scritto news:Wprfg.1636$bk5.466@tornado.texas.rr.com: > My grandfather immigrated from Italy to the U. S. in 1893. He sailed > from Naples on 31 Dec 1892 and arrived in Ellis Island on 3 Feb 1893. > He and his brother were issued a "Passaporto -- In Nome di Sua Maesta > Umberto I per grazie de dio e per volonta della nazxione re d'italia > Il Ministro per gli Affari Esteri prega le Autorita Civilie e Militare > di Sua Maesta e elle Potenze amiche el alleate dilasciar liberamente > passare, etc." The document issued pm 13 Nov 1892 is entirely in > Italian and it appears to me it is a passport and/or permission to > leave Italy. Whether my grandfather and his brother had to present > this to the authorities at Ellis Island is unknown. > > Mike > Thanks Mike: I stand corrected. I think it is a wonderful document that you have there. I knew passports were issued by European countries in the 1800s but I thought they died out in the latter part of the 1800s until they came back in the early 1900's. I also saw some reference to a book called "Invention of the Passport" (still in print). I may buy it to get the history of these documents.