Historic Passports Belonging to Famous People from the Past

Albert Einstein

Everybody in the world needs a passport in order to travel internationally, even famous stars and celebrities. During the application process, there is always a brief moment of hesitation, knowing that if you take a bad photograph, that dreaded image will linger with you for a solid ten years of travel. This incredible collection features the documentation of historically famous people from throughout the 20th century. Fortunately, these stars were quite photogenic, even in their tiny government-issued booklets.

Paired with a signature and a stamp bearing the date of issue, the images are an incredible illustration of history right before our eyes. The series includes people like Albert Einstein, Ella Fitzgerald, Ernest Hemingway, Janis Joplin, Marilyn Monroe, The Kennedy’s, and Nelson Mandela. Beyond seeing the original owners, it’s also interesting to directly compare the booklets in terms of the different designs, paper color, and photo placement. Isn’t it funny that such a universally required booklet can be so different throughout the world and across decades.

Audrey Hepburn