How to read old German handwriting on passports?
As a collector of German travel documents, it is not always easy to read a passport’s handwriting, especially when you have documents before the 19th century. Well, I guess said is valid also for other collectors and their collection area. Old German language
The old German language is handwritten in “Kurrent,” which is a form of late medieval cursive writing, also known as Kurrentschrift or Alte Deutsche Schrift (“Old German script”). Over the history of its use into the first part of the 20th century, many individual letters acquired variant forms. Old German language
Sütterlin is a modern script based on Kurrentschrift that is characterized by simplified letters and vertical strokes. It was developed in 1911 and taught in German schools as the primary script from 1935 until 1941. Then it was replaced with “normal German font,” which is sometimes referred to (correctly but confusingly) as “Latin font.” Old German language
One of my latest acquisitions is a passport from the city of Neumünster (North Germany) issued in 1811, printed form, but the personal details are handwritten, of course. The picture below helped me to read the text. There you can see examples of the single handwritten letters in “Kurrent.”
It’s a learning process, and it takes time to get “fluent” in this old German language handwriting, but it’s also fun and educating.
Here you can learn Suetterlin – the “German handwriting”
Suetterlin script: a script, created by the Berlin graphic artist Ludwig Sütterlin (1865-1917), which was taught from 1915 to 1941 in German schools. It is also called “the German handwriting”. The writing is a standard form of the earlier and very different chancery writing, which was mainly used by government officials.
People of an older generation often cannot write any other way, and yet both the postman and the grandchildren have trouble reading their envelopes and letters written in this script. When old family documents are taken out or church books are to be read, the knowledge of this writing is absolutely necessary.
During the reading lessons we begin with the last level of the “Suetterlin script”, which is also known as “the German handwriting” – and then turn to the old chancery-writings, in German called “Kurrentschrift” or “Kanzleischrift”.
Suetterlin writing is rarely written precisely, since it occurs almost only in handwriting. Even an experienced reader must first get used to the specific handwriting until the text becomes understandable.
Special German characters: ä, ö, ü have two dots above. In the Middle Ages, it was a tiny “e” above, this is similar to two tiny strokes (compare the Sütterlin “e”). Nowadays, there are two dots. If you have no ä, ö, ü on your keyboard, you may replace it with ae, oe, ue and it is still understandable, e.g. Doerling is the same as Dörling. The “ß” that looks like “B” means “ss” and can understandably be replaced with “ss”.
FAQ Passport History
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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...