PROTECTING AMERICAN SHIPS AND CREWS FROM MAURADING PIRATES IN THE MEDITERRANEAN WOULD LEAD TO THE BARBARY WARS. THIS DOCUMENT SIGNED BY THOMAS JEFFERSON, AS PRESIDENT,  FUTURE PRESIDENT, JAMES MADISON, AS SECRETARY OF STATE, AND DAVID GELSTON, A SIGNER OF THE ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION (1774) AND DELEGATE TO THE CONTINENTAL CONGRESS, IDENTIFIED A U. S. SHIP AS BEING PROTECTED UNDER A TREATY WITH STATES OF THE BARBARY COAST, AND UNDER PROTECTION FROM BARBARY PIRATES.

President Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826), Secretary of State James Madison (1751-1836) & David Gelston (1744-1828) Signed Document, "Th: Jefferson", “James Madison” and “David Gelston Collector”, 12 x 18, on partly printed vellum page, with rare embossed seal still intact, and a rare early example with the large engravings of a lighthouse and a ship at anchor across the entire top third of the document, Port of New York, April 20, 1803. The passport, No. 65, allows the “Brig. Experiment of New York, captained by James D. Burger, of the burthen of one hundred forty-five & 28/95 tons or thereabouts, mounted with no guns, navigated with eight men to pass with her Company, Passengers, Goods, and Merchandize, without any hindrance, seizure or molestation...." This incredible historic find is in fine condition, with fold lines, a fold crosses one letter of Madison’s signature, Jefferson’s signature a bit light, but clearly legible, and moderate age toning.  

The Mediterranean passport, commonly called a ship's passport, was a document which identified a ship as being protected under a treaty with states of the Barbary Coast. Such a treaty exacted tribute in exchange for protection from Barbary pirates capturing that country's ships and crews. There was no expectation that pirates in the Mediterranean would speak - or read - English. Passports were designed with a curved, scallop-shaped cut-out top edge, engraved illustrations and an official seal, and were printed on vellum (parchment made of treated animal skin, used instead of fiber-based paper). To authenticate documents, Barbary Coast officials were sent examples for comparison, including the matching curved piece from the top edge. 

The Barbary Coast - the North African, southern Mediterranean region including Morocco, Algiers, Tunis, and Tripoli (now known as Algeria, Tunisia, and Libya) was a particularly treacherous zone through the mid nineteenth century. Capture by Barbary pirates often meant torture, enslavement, and the confiscation of goods and ships. Some governments negotiated treaties and paid monetary tributes (bribes) to the Barbary rulers to secure safe passage for their subjects. The fledgling American government had no forces to defend her countrymen from pirate attacks. As a consequence, our ships were seized, and high fees were paid to secure their release and the return of their surviving crews.

In 1801, the Bey of Tripoli declared war on the United States when we refused to pay more in tribute. President Thomas Jefferson ordered a naval squadron to the Mediterranean to win the first Barbary War.    #13055ZARIO

Certificate of Authenticity

 

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