‘Sponsorship’ or ‘passage’ certificate for the Jew Feivel Lensippe, on his way to a country under the patronage of the Ottoman Empire, from the Spanish consulate in Damascus, for the Ottoman authorities. With the Jew’s picture. April, 1918 (the empire was clearly then in its period of demise). Extraordinarily rare.
As is well known, during the period of the Ottoman empire, the power of consuls was immense, and they were the de facto rulers over the citizens of their countries residing throughout the Ottoman empire – they could kill or save lives with a wave of their hands.
[1] paper certificate, approximately 19×30 cm. Spanish and Arabic. Original envelope included.
Moderate-fine condition: Aging stains. Fold marks. Tears.