Alexander von Doernberg – Diplomatic Passport
ALEXANDER VON DOERNBERG – DIPLOMATIC PASSPORT
German jurist, diplomat, and SS officer, Head of the Protocol Department of the Foreign Office from 1938 to 1945. Diplomatic passport, issued August 2, 1943, in Berlin. The first page gives his passport number “1646”, expiration date in August of 1944 and an extension until 1946, and lists his title “Chef des Protokolls im Auswaertigen Amt.” The second page bears his biographical information. The third page features his identification photo above his signature in indelible blue pencil on a slip of paper affixed to the page. The Foreign Office’s endorsement stamp appears on page five, and the following pages show diplomatic visa stamps issued for Bulgaria, the Slovak Republic, Hungary, the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia, and finally Switzerland. The document is bound in blue cloth boards with a gilt national eagle and titles. It shows various blind-embossed seals and a punch numeral at the bottom of the pages. The binding is split slightly, with expected bumps and wear to the covers; else, very good. Comes with a printed invitation, 8″ x 5 3/4″, from German Labor Front head Dr. Robert Ley, inviting von Doernberg to attend a reception for the “Faschistischen Partei-Delegation” (“Fascist Party Delegation”) of Italy on January 29, 1943, at the Hotel Adlon in Berlin. The group is completed by a postal cover used by the General Government in Belgium, addressed to a “Kabinettsrat (‘Cabinet Member’) Romheld,” with von Doernberg’s typed return address in Brussels on the verso.
In his official capacity, Von Doernberg received British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain during the negotiations that would produce the Munich Agreement in the fall of 1938 and would also accompany Foreign Minister Joachim von Ribbentrop to Moscow for the signing of the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact in August 1939. The Allies arrested him at the war’s end, and he served as a witness at the Nuremberg trials, especially the Ministries Trial. He caused controversy when, in 2005, it was realized that his portrait still hung among those of his predecessors and successors as head of the Protocol Department at the Foreign Office building in Berlin.
The diplomatic passport was auctioned in July 2019 and sold for $2000.
Alexander von Doernberg
FAQ Passport History
Passport collection, passport renewal, old passports for sale, vintage passport, emergency passport renewal, same day passport, passport application, pasaporte passeport паспорт 护照 パスポート جواز سفر पासपोर्ट
1. What are the earliest known examples of passports, and how have they evolved?
The word "passport" came up only in the mid 15th Century. Before that, such documents were safe conducts, recommendations or protection letters. On a practical aspect, the earliest passport I have seen was from the mid 16th Century. Read more...
2. Are there any notable historical figures or personalities whose passports are highly sought after by collectors?
Every collector is doing well to define his collection focus, and yes, there are collectors looking for Celebrity passports and travel documents of historical figures like Winston Churchill, Brothers Grimm, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. Read more...
3. How did passport designs and security features change throughout different periods in history, and what impact did these changes have on forgery prevention?
"Passports" before the 18th Century had a pure functional character. Security features were, in the best case, a watermark and a wax seal. Forgery, back then, was not an issue like it is nowadays. Only from the 1980s on, security features became a thing. A state-of-the-art passport nowadays has dozens of security features - visible and invisible. Some are known only by the security document printer itself. Read more...
4. What are some of the rarest and most valuable historical passports that have ever been sold or auctioned?
Lou Gehrig, Victor Tsoi, Marilyn Monroe, James Joyce, and Albert Einstein when it comes to the most expensive ones. Read more...
5. How do diplomatic passports differ from regular passports, and what makes them significant to collectors?
Such documents were often held by officials in high ranks, like ambassadors, consuls or special envoys. Furthermore, these travel documents are often frequently traveled. Hence, they hold a tapestry of stamps or visas. Partly from unusual places.
6. Can you provide insights into the stories behind specific historical passports that offer unique insights into past travel and migration trends?
A passport tells the story of its bearer and these stories can be everything - surprising, sad, vivid. Isabella Bird and her travels (1831-1904) or Mary Kingsley, a fearless Lady explorer.
7. What role did passports play during significant historical events, such as wartime travel restrictions or international treaties?
During war, a passport could have been a matter of life or death. Especially, when we are looking into WWII and the Holocaust. And yes, during that time, passports and similar documents were often forged to escape and save lives. Example...
8. How has the emergence of digital passports and biometric identification impacted the world of passport collecting?
Current modern passports having now often a sparkling, flashy design. This has mainly two reasons. 1. Improved security and 2. Displaying a countries' heritage, icons, and important figures or achievements. I can fully understand that those modern documents are wanted, especially by younger collectors.
9. Are there any specialized collections of passports, such as those from a specific country, era, or distinguished individuals?
Yes, the University of Western Sidney Library has e.g. a passport collection of the former prime minister Hon Edward Gough Whitlam and his wife Margaret. They are all diplomatic passports and I had the pleasure to apprise them. I hold e.g. a collection of almost all types of the German Empire passports (only 2 types are still missing). Also, my East German passport collection is quite extensive with pretty rare passport types.
10. Where can passport collectors find reliable resources and reputable sellers to expand their collection and learn more about passport history?
A good start is eBay, Delcampe, flea markets, garage or estate sales. The more significant travel documents you probably find at the classic auction houses. Sometimes I also offer documents from my archive/collection. See offers... As you are already here, you surely found a great source on the topic 😉
Other great sources are: Scottish Passports, The Nansen passport, The secret lives of diplomatic couriers
11. Is vintage passport collecting legal? What are the regulations and considerations collectors should know when acquiring historical passports?
First, it's important to stress that each country has its own laws when it comes to passports. Collecting old vintage passports for historical or educational reasons is safe and legal, or at least tolerated. More details on the legal aspects are here...
Does this article spark your curiosity about passport collecting and the history of passports? With this valuable information, you have a good basis to start your own passport collection.
Question? Contact me...