Fantastic U.S. Passport 1858 - Legation St. Petersburg

Passeport No 5., 1858. Légation des États Unis d’Amérique en Russie.

Rare and exquisite travel documents like this one don’t cross the path of collectors very often. The rarity factor becomes even more pronounced when it pertains to United States passports issued within Russia, specifically in St. Petersburg.

Francis W. Pickens US Passport Legation St Petersburg

From 1858 until he was recalled in 1860, the U.S. Minister to the Tsarist Court was Francis W. Pickens of South Carolina – one of the states that attempted to secede from the Union. Minister Pickens was later replaced by John Appleton of the northern state of Maine, who served from 1860 to 1861. Born on his family’s plantation along the Tuggaloo River in St. Paul’s Parish, Francis W. Pickens (1805-1869) pursued his education at Franklin College (now known as the University of Georgia) in Athens, Georgia, and South Carolina College. In 1829, he initiated his legal career in the Edgefield District. Later on, he served a term in the state House of Representatives and secured a position in the U.S. House of Representatives in 1834, filling a vacancy left by George McDuffie, who had resigned after being elected governor. Pickens also held a seat in the state Senate from 1844 to 1846.

U.S. Minister to Russia US Passport Legation St Petersburg

In 1856, President Buchanan appointed Pickens as the U.S. Minister to Russia, a role he held until 1860. At that time, he returned to South Carolina and was subsequently elected as the governor. During his governorship, he staunchly supported secession and issued the command to open fire on the Union vessel, the “Star of the West,” as it attempted to deliver reinforcements to Fort Sumter. Additionally, he issued a demand to Major Anderson to surrender the fort, marking the onset of the Civil War. Following the war’s conclusion, Pickens retired to his plantation, where he resided until his passing in 1869. US Passport Legation St Petersburg

The Passport

(Translation of French Text)
The Great Seal of the United States: E Pluribus Unum with 26 Stars
Passport No. 5.
Legation of the United States of America in Russia. The undersigned, F W Pickens Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Court of His Majesty the Emperor of all Russia, pray all those who are asked to let pass surely and freely and if necessary give aid and protection to Mister John L Jarvis, citizen of United States going to England carrying the dispatches.

Given under my signature and imprint of the Seal of the Legation in St Petersburg on 6th, November 1858, the 83rd year of the Independence of the United States. W Pickens

The history of the American passport…

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