This is a most scarce document for any passport collector – an early 1883 Prince Charles III. travel document in excellent condition. Principality Monaco Charles III Passport

From 20 June 1856 till his death on 10 September 1889, Charles III (Charles Honoré Grimaldi; 8 December 1818 – 10 September 1889) was Prince of Monaco and Duke of Valentinois. His title in Monegasque and Italian was Carlo III, and he was the founder of the famed casino in Monte Carlo. He was the only son of Florestan, Prince of Monaco, and Maria Caroline Gibert de Lametz and was born in Paris. Principality Monaco Charles III Passport

In Brussels, Charles married Countess Antoinette de Mérode-Westerloo on September 28, 1846, while still a Hereditary Prince. In 1856, he succeeded his father, Prince Florestan I. During his reign, the towns of Menton and Roquebrune, which together account for almost 80% of Monegasque territory, were formally relinquished to France, clearing the way for formal French recognition of Monaco’s independence. For decades, armed uprisings in these towns, sponsored by the Kingdom of Sardinia, had depleted Monaco’s military forces.

The Principality needed money badly, so Prince Charles and his mother, Princess Caroline, devised the plan to build a casino. The Monte Carlo Casino was built on Les Spélugues and was created in the German-style to the Prince’s delight. After all, Monte Carlo (in English, Mount Charles) is named after its founder, Charles. To administer the Casino, Charles founded a society (company), which is now known as the Société des Bains de Mer de Monaco. The famous casino opened in 1863. Principality Monaco Charles III Passport

The Principality of Monaco strengthened its diplomatic efforts under Charles III; for example, in 1864, Charles III signed a Treaty of Friendship with Muhammad III as-Sadiq, the Bey of Tunis, which governed trade and maritime difficulties. In 1869, the principality stopped collecting income tax from its residents—an indulgence the Grimaldi family could afford to entertain thanks solely to the extraordinary success of the casino. This made Monaco not only a playground for the rich but a favored place for them to live. Principality Monaco Charles III Passport

In 20 years of collecting, this is only the second time I found a 19th Century Monaco passport.
This travel document was issued to Jules Wurmser, director of the registration authority.

Principality Monaco Charles III Passport

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