Walther Ulbricht – The papers of the wall builder
“No one intends to build a wall.” This sentence has gone down in history. It was uttered in 1961 by GDR head of state Walter Ulbricht (1893-1973). 56 years later, unique documents from the life of the “wall builder” were sold under the hammer in Hamburg. Walther Ulbricht papers wall
Honecker, Mielke, Stoph, and, most recently, the GDR currency procurer Alexander Shalck-Golodkovsky: a Hamburg auctioneer has a knack for the estates of GDR greats. In October 2017, he was auctioning documents of Walter Ulbricht. The offer has a historical rank. Thus, his membership card (No. 2!) of the Communist Party of Germany (KPD) from 1945 is offered at the exclamation price of 1000 euros. The membership card of the Socialist Unity Party of Germany (SED) from 1946 is estimated at 500 euros. It has the signature Ulbricht’s, as the occupation is indicated: “Party worker”. The tattered identity card of the party leader from 1945 has the same fingerprint and signature. Walther Ulbricht papers wall
More curious than historically significant is the free ticket for the Deutsche Reichsbahn for Ulbricht, a member of the state parliament, from 1947 and an annual ticket for the Hoppegarten racetrack. Of interest to historians are documents belonging to Ulbricht’s wife Lotte. In 1937, under Stalin’s regime of terror, she had to make statements in exile in Moscow about comrades who had also sought protection therefrom Hitler’s henchmen. Walther Ulbricht papers wall
She had lived with Ulbricht in Moscow since 1938. However, they were not married until 1953 in the GDR. But even before that, Lotte used the name Ulbricht illegally, since her official name was still Lotte Kühn. A curious letter from Lotte Ulbricht to the chief of the Saxon police from 1946 is now also being auctioned. She asks to be officially called Ulbricht and gives the following reasons for this: “I have had this surname for years and am generally known by it. I have carried the name in good faith…”
And where do all the objects and documents that are now being auctioned off come from? The auctioneer is silent. According to insider information, they come from the estate of a Berlin communist. Walther Ulbricht papers wall
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...