Anna Pavlova Passport: First Ballerina On World Tour
Anna Pavlova Passport Ballerina
Pavlova left the Imperial Ballet in 1913 to form her own company, with which she toured continuously from 1914 onward. The many stamps in this passport reflect her impact as an ambassador for the art and on aspiring dancers worldwide: including Australia, Peru, where Frederick Ashton saw Pavlova perform and immediately decided to become a dancer, Hong Kong, Shanghai, China, Brazil, Argentina, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Japan, the United States, Venezuela, Canada, Mexico, and many others.
The Passport at Auction
Her passport was used to perform in locations worldwide from 1914 to 1926. With a photograph of Pavlova pasted in, signed by her across the top-left corner. Issued in St Petersburg on 12 June 1914 and bearing various visas and stamps through to 03 September 1926. (Some wear and minor repairs, without one of the detachable leaves removed by an official to issue a document.)
The original passport bound in green cloth extended once within these covers with additional leaves, the binding string fixed to the rear cover with red wax and the seal of the Russian General Consulate in London; extended a second time when the whole was bound in black roan (extremities rubbed, spine head chipped); housed in a custom gray cloth clamshell case.
Auction result in Dec 2015: $26.425! Anna Pavlova Passport Ballerina
Pavlova, Anna Matveevna (1881-1931)
Background Story
The identical passport was previously put up for auction in 2012, and I was actively bidding on it, narrowly missing out by just a few dollars. The final auction price at that time was $1300!
It’s evident that passport collecting can indeed turn out to be a lucrative investment.
The key to successfully auctioning your collectibles lies in selecting the right auction venue, ensuring that your item aligns with the overarching theme of the auction, and leveraging a compelling narrative that the auction house can weave around your item. Establishing strong connections with the auction house can also significantly enhance your chances of success. Anna Pavlova Passport Ballerina
Celebrity Passport Auction Results
Tom Topol | Passport History Expert & Author.
Featured in media incl. CNN, BBC, Newsweek. Awarded by the U.S. Department of State.
"Want to go deeper? My book Let Pass or Die covers the full 400-year history"
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