USN Diplomatic Passports Lieutenant Harp
Discover these fascinating diplomatic passports, adorned in unique red and green leather covers with exquisite golden imprints, elegantly displaying the bearers’ names and passport numbers. These remarkable travel documents belonged to Navy Lieutenant Orland Charles Harp, serving as an Attaché to the US embassy in Baghdad, Iraq, and his wife, Janet Sowell Harp. Both passports were issued in the memorable year of 1952. US Diplomatic Passports
The Documents
Charles’s passport is a treasure trove of experiences, containing 48 pages accompanied by an additional 14 extension pages, culminating in a grand total of 62 pages. Each page narrates a captivating tale of adventure, adorned with a rich assortment of intriguing visas and stamps. The diplomatic visas elegantly grace the pages, obtained from the enchanting lands of Iraq, Lebanon, Syria, Cyprus, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and the Aden Colony.
Janet’s passport, although equally charming with its 48 pages, has not been adorned with as many stamps and visas as Charles’s. Nevertheless, it remains a cherished collectible, housed in an equally uncommon leather cover.
Both of these diplomatic passports hold significant historical value and serve as cherished mementos of a bygone era. Their unique leather covers make them truly standout collectibles, sure to captivate the interest of any avid collector or history enthusiast.
The latest rank of Orland Charles Harp was Lt Cmdr, US Navy, he served in WWII, Korea & Vietnam. He died in 2009 and is buried at Pensacola, Escambia County, Florida, USA, Plot: A-22 A 12 – together with his wife Janet who died in 2014.
US Ambassador in Iraq US Diplomatic Passports
US Ambassador in Iraq back then was Burton Yost Berry (August 31, 1901 – August 22, 1985) an American diplomat and art collector.
Born in Fowler, Indiana, Berry studied at Indiana University. In 1928 he joined the United States Foreign Service. Berry served as Vice-Consul to Istanbul from 1929 to 1931, Consul to Athens in 1938, Istanbul in 1943, Bucharest in 1944, Director of the State Department’s Office of African, South Asian, and Near East Affairs in 1947, Budapest in 1948, and as Ambassador to Iraq from 1952 to 1954. He then retired and lived in Istanbul, Beirut, Cairo, and finally in Zürich.
Early on in his career, Berry began to collect Middle Eastern textiles coins, gems, jewelry, and other antiques. The textile collection was donated to the Art Institute of Chicago. Many of the coins were donated to the American Numismatic Society. Much of the rest was donated to the Indiana University Art Museum.
US Diplomatic Passports
Tom Topol | Passport History Expert & Author.
Featured in media incl. CNN, BBC, Newsweek. Awarded by the U.S. Department of State.
"Want to go deeper? My book Let Pass or Die covers the full 400-year history"
👉 Ask Me Anything | 🏛️ View the Recognition List | 📚 Rare offers from my personal collection
