Unique: British Palestine Passport with the first Israel Stamps

This double passport is significant passport history and never seen before British Palestine Passport Israel

Its bearer was not just a seasoned traveler, but also this passport is including one of the earliest visas/stamps from the newly established State of Israel! These stamps, dated just 4 days after its foundation (check page 6), are a testament to a wealth of fascinating visas!

Meet Edgar “Shlomo” Frigyes, a student at the age 21 when the British Palestine passport was issued in Jerusalem on 6 April 1945. Edgar was born in Frankfurt am Main, Germany and lived in Haifa.

His two passports are attached together, sealed together by the issuing authority. There are plenty of visas from France, Czechoslovakia, Greece, Switzerland, Italy, AMG visa with revenue stamp issued in Rome.

The latter passport was issued at the High Commission for Palestine in Rome in March 1948. Under the British Mandate (1920-1948), the whole region was known as Palestine.

At that time, Shlomo lived in Rome. Especially, this passport holds the early State of Israel visas, stamped as early as 18 May 1948. The State of Israel was founded on 14 May 1948.

Interestingly, the stamp was originally, “Seen on departure PALESTINE customs – Haifa airport, but Palestine was overwritten by ISRAEL.” The exit stamp from 19 May 1948 is completely handwritten “STATE OF ISRAEL”. British Palestine Passport Israel

It’s obvious that at this time, days after the Israeli state was founded, no sufficient stamps were available. Page 12 shows not only one of the first “State of Israel” stamp, but also one of the very first consular stamps – here the consulate in Rome.

Here are some more selected examples of Shlomo’s unusual double passport. British Palestine Passport Israel

The first Israeli stamps in British Palestine passports can be found starting in May 1948, immediately after Israel declared independence on May 14, 1948. These early Israeli entry and exit stamps were used in passports of individuals traveling to the newly established State of Israel.

Key Points to Consider:

1. Pre-State British Mandate Stamps (before May 1948)
   • British Palestine passports issued under the mandate had British entry/exit stamps, often from Palestine, Transjordan, Lebanon, Egypt, and other surrounding regions.
   • The British mandate officially ended on May 15, 1948, when British forces withdrew.
2. Israeli Stamps Begin (from May 1948)
   • Israeli border control started stamping passports right after the state’s establishment.
   • The first Israeli stamps were hand-stamped and often used Hebrew alongside English.
   • Some examples of British Palestine passports from 1948-1949 show Israeli stamps from ports like Haifa, Lod (Lydda) Airport, and Tel Aviv.
3. British Palestine Passport Usage Post-1948
   • After Israel’s establishment, British Palestine passports were still used by their holders until they acquired new national documents (Israeli, Jordanian, etc.).
   • Some passport holders with British-protected status or Palestinian nationality continued traveling with these passports into the early 1950s, sometimes receiving Israeli visas or entry permits.

 

 

Tom Topol | Passport History Expert & Author.
Featured in media incl. CNN, BBC, Newsweek. Awarded by the U.S. Department of State.
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