Collectors may pay a lot for old passports

Passport history old passports

Anyone who needs a new passport goes to the citizens’ office, applies, waits two weeks, gets the document. The old, expired passport is canceled and disposed of – it’s the end of the story. For Tom Topol, however, this is where things really begin: he has been collecting old, expired passports for years, especially those from the GDR. So far, he has amassed 700 of them. It’s a special hobby that also provides exciting insights into history. Passport history old passports

At first glance, passport collecting seems like a very unusual hobby, yet some people engage in it. “Worldwide, there are probably a few thousand,” says Tom Topol. “But of course, this area of collecting is still nowhere near as widespread as stamps or coins.” Perhaps many think passports are standardized – and therefore, boring? If you think so, you’re wrong: “From today’s perspective, old passports are small works of art,” says Topol. “Each one was unique. In the past, they were issued by hand. And every stamp, every visa tells its own story.” Passport history old passports 

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