Unframed United States ships scallop top passport on vellum, issued to the Brig Polly and Nancy of Baltimore, William Grover , Master, dated July 16, 1804, signed by Thomas Jefferson, President and James Madison, Secretary of State, allowing the "Ship to Pass with her Company, Passengers, Goods and Merchandise, without any hindrance, seizure or molestation", folded, several small holes, seal present, approx. 17.5h, 11.5"w *Note: U.S. Ships Passports originated in 1795 as a result of a treaty with the "Dey of Algiers", ruler of the Ottoman Empire, particularly those countries boarding the southern Mediterranean known as the Barbary Coast. The treaty allowed the U.S. to pay tribute in exchange for safe passage of the U.S. ships from pirates. The top of the passports were cut in random patterns and pre-sent to Barbary agents who determined the authenticity of the passport by matching their part with the particular ships passport.