Bidspirit auction | British Passport – Palestine Visa

British Passport – Palestine Visa from the Free French Legation in Jerusalem - With Extensive Egyptian, Syrian and Lebanese Stamps | Pages 20–27 Blank A historically significant British Mandate of Palestine passport issued in Jerusalem on 29 June 1940 by His Majesty’s High Commissioner for Palestine. Issued to Mr. Izrail Swislocki, passport number 131687. The passport contains 32 pages in total, of which pages 20–27 remain completely blank, while all other relevant pages contain numerous visas, border stamps, consular fees, renewals, and entries from across the Middle East during the 1940s. Rare Visa from the Free French Legation – Jerusalem (France Combattante) A highlight of this passport appears on page 13: Légation de la France Combattante en Palestine et Transjordanie – Jerusalem Official visa issued by the Free French Legation in Jerusalem, representing the government of General de Gaulle. Dated 21 November 1944. Authorizes travel to Syria and Lebanon (then under French Mandate administration). Signed by the Consul General. Large purple consular stamp with fee notation of 825 mils. Additional circular stamp of the Comité National Français, confirming the visa request dated 11 October 1944. This visa is exceptionally rare due to the short-lived and limited diplomatic activity of the Free French in Mandatory Palestine during World War II. Egyptian Stamps and Visas (1943–1944) The passport contains several Egyptian entries, including: 21 March 1943 consular visa issued by the Egyptian Consulate General in Jerusalem, with an attached 380 mils Egyptian consular revenue stamp. Additional Egyptian entry and exit stamps from the mid-1940s. Pages 9–11 include multiple Egyptian fiscal stamps (5, 10 mils) in excellent preservation. Syrian and Lebanese Entries (1943–1945) Multiple Syrian and Lebanese visas bearing French–Arab bilingual consular stamps. Border control endorsements written in Arabic, English, and French. Palestine Police Force (Defence Regulation 27) travel permit for Syria & Lebanon, dated 12 July 1945. Additional border control stamps with fiscal adhesives from the region. Other Notable Entries Haifa Port Entry – 6 August 1940 (large purple circular stamp). American Vice-Consul, Jerusalem — visitor visa dated 23 July 1947. Passport renewal extending validity to 29 June 1950. Very good condition overall, with minor water damage, mostly visible near edges of some pages but without loss of text or structural integrity. The binding is stable, and all stamps, visas, and fiscal adhesives remain clearly legible. Historical Significance This passport documents extensive mid-war and post-war travel across the Middle East, and contains: A rare Free French Legation visa from Jerusalem, Rich documentation of travel to Egypt, Syria, and Lebanon, Authentic border and consular interactions during the final years of the British Mandate, Such passports are highly sought after by collectors of Mandate-era documents, diplomatic history enthusiasts, and institutions studying civilian mobility during World War II.