Chapter III Format of Book THE FORMAT of the passport document has never been defined by U.S. law or regulation. For this reason, over the years many different regular passports have been developed and issued. Some of the most important changes in passport format and the times they occurred are listed here. (Exhibit 35) Type I: 1780-1917 The early U.S. passports were printed on a single sheet of paper, approximately 12 inches by 18 inches, without ornamentation.1 These large sheets of white paper were appropriately engraved and, since they were without covers, had to be folded for convenience. Passports issued abroad beginning in 1796, and from then on, described the bearer in terms of "age in years; stature in feet; and height in inches." (Exhibit 26) However, 1811 passports signed by James Monroe reflect a change in format in that the description of the bearer was included in the body of passports issued in Washington.2 Also a small cut of the American arms is displayed at the top of the document. (Exhibit 36) Later in 1820 the bearer's description was placed on one side. of the passport page and the wording was shortened. (Exhibit 37) This was followed by the large passport of 1833 which displayed 1 Gaillard Hunt, The American Passport, U.S. Government Printing Office, Wash., D.C., 1898, p. 77. 2 Ibid., p. 78. |