passport

[kerkyras]

Hello everyone, haven't been on for a while but would like to pick your brains thanks. My sister and I found a paper passport dated 1889 in our mothers' possessions and would like some help in how we can find out more about this.
It is just one sheet of paper, and it has the signature of the owner,who we believe is our gggrandmother. What we would like to find out is, if in those days one had to give details of their identification to obtain a passport, and if so, who would they have given it to.
We took it to the National Library of Scotland, and the National Archives of Scotland, who did really know where we could go with this, although they were quite excited to hold this piece of paper. They advised us to contact Ancestry, who redirected us to Find My Past, but still no luck. Hoping someone can help us out here.
Thanks

Lizzie

[Hibee]

Hi Lizzie

Have you seen this stuff?

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/records/looking-for-person/passport.htm

Hibee

[kerkyras]

Hibee,

Thanks for that link, don't seem to be able to find anything there, we had to go on to find my past, and we did manage to find her name and the date of her passport, which we already know, so I don't think that we will find any further information about it. At least we have the passport which is great condition.
cheers

Lizzie

[GrahamSimons]

I have experience of looking for passport applications, though a bit earlier in 1855 for my g-grandfather: I have a framed copy and the original is in the National Library of Wales. The application register is not on line so you have to go to Kew to look at the ledger. My visit wasn't illuminating - all there was there was name date and so on, no other information. A very few of the entries on that page had scraps more information, but based on my very limited experience I wouldn't make a trip to Kew just for this - if I were there for other reasons I would order up the ledger in the forlorn hope of something of interest.

Article in October 2012 issue of Family Tree magazine will give some background.

[kerkyras]

Graham,
Thanks for your reply, we had actually come to the conclusion that we would not find out anymore information than what we already have, but at least we do have the original passport so for that we're happy.
Thanks for your help

Cheers

Lizzie