British Passport : Series 18 (1972 — 1988) Old Blue cover with new design & watermarked blue paper.
A special blue watermarked paper was introduced to make alteration and forgery more difficult. The number of pages was reduced from 32 to 30, and the holder's eye colour and the maiden name of a married woman were removed.
In July 1988, changes were made to ease the introduction of machine-readable passports later in the year. Joint passports were no longer issued and the descriptions of distinguishing features and height were removed.
The last Old Blue passports were issued in 1993 and expired in 2003.
Contradition: The United Kingdom Passport Service issued the last old blue 10-year passport in November 1991, when the roll-out to the new passport was completed.
http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/written_answers/2001/nov/14/machine-readable-passports#S5LV0628P0_20011114_LWA_19
PYHSICAL DESCRIPTION
Printing method of coat-of-arm on the front cover: Flat (not incuse).
VARIETIES
| VARIETY |
DESCRIPTION |
| I |
- Photo not laminated
- Page 2 : Occupation and Residence
- Page 2 : Height in Ft. and In.
- Page 29 & Page 30: Foreign Exchange
- Page 30 : Emergency Contacts
- Page 29 & Back Cover (Interior) : Printer's code M/4249** or M/4589**
- Page 29: Foreign Exchange Facilities (Private Travel)
- Page 30: Exchange Control Act 1947 Foreign Exchange Facilities (Business, Professional, Official and Forces Travel)
- Golden printing: incuse.
- Holder & Wife
|
| II |
- WIFE changed to SPOUSE.
- Photo laminated (without overprint)
- Page 2 : Occupation and Residence
- Page 29 & Page 30: Foreign Exchange
- Page 29 & Back Cover (Interior) : Printer's code M/4472** or M/4375** or M/4240*
- Page 30 : Emergency Contacts
|
| III |
Lamination over the bearer's photograph without overprint.
In 1979, UK exchange controls were abolished, and the foreign exchange page was removed.
Page 29/30 should show Visa/Addresses instead of Foreign Exchange.
NO SAMPLE IN ARCHIVE. |
| IV |
In 1981, overprinting of the laminate to the laminate to further increase security.
- WIFE changed to SPOUSE.
- Photo laminated (With overprint)
- Page 2 : Occupation and Residence
- Page 29 & Page 30: Foreign Exchange removed and replaced with Visa
- Page 30 : Emergency Contacts
- Page 29 & Back Cover (Interior) : Printer's code M/4629**
|
| V |
In 1982, the holder's occupation and country of residence were removed.
- Photo laminated (With overprint)
- Page 2 : Occupation and Residence : removed
- Observations: Empty
- iPage 29 & Page 30: Foreign Exchange removed and replaced with Visa
- Page 30 : Emergency Contacts
- Page 29 & Back Cover (Interior) : Printer's code
- Front cover, coat of arms : printed incuse.
- WIFE changed to SPOUSE.
- NOTES, Item 4 Family Passports
- Diplomatic Request Page: Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs
NO SAMPLE IN ARCHIVE. |
| VI |
In 1982, the holder's occupation and country of residence were removed.
- Photo laminated (With overprint)
- Page 2 : Occupation and Residence : removed
- Observations: Empty
- iPage 29 & Page 30: Foreign Exchange removed and replaced with Visa
- Page 30 : Emergency Contacts
- Page 29 & Back Cover (Interior) : Printer's code M/742492/A**
- Front cover, coat of arms : printed incuse.
- WIFE changed to SPOUSE.
- NOTES, Item 4 Family Passports
- Diplomatic Request Page: Secretary of State
|
| VII |
In 1982, the holder's occupation and country of residence were removed.
Particulars and photo space for spouse have been removed allowing only single adult person for each passport. But it still allowing adding information for children below 16.
Until August 1988, the particulars of a wife or husband could be included in the UK passport if both partners were British citizens. This practice was discontinued when the EC common format passport was introduced.
- Photo laminated (With overprint)
- Page 2 : Occupation and Residence are no longer printed
- Page 29 & Page 30: Foreign Exchange removed and replaced with Visa
- Page 30 : Emergency Contacts
- Page 29 & Back Cover (Interior) : Printer's code M/745073/A*
- Front cover, coat of arms : printed flat not incuse.
|
| ? |
JUMBO PASSPORT
In May 1973, an optional 94-page passport was made available which provided many more pages for immigration stamps and visas for frequent travellers.
A 94-page passport, which was introduced on 1 May 1973 to accommodate the needs of business persons and other frequent travellers. The last of these were issued by FCO posts in 1993. The burgundy version of this passport has 48 pages.
NO SAMPLE IN ARCHIVE. |
Consular issued documents are affixed with
C to its variety:
I.C,
II.C,
III.C,
IV.C,
V.C,
VI.C,
VII.C
In
1975, lamination over the bearer's photograph was introduced to make alteration harder.
In
1982, the holder's occupation and country of residence were removed.
This British passport which only has 30 pages was issued to
Mrs Dorothy Cecelia Marion Connolly. It was issued by
Passport Office, London.
LAMINATION AND OVERPRINT
When photos are laminated, a plastic sleeves can be seen on page 3 and 4 and when it has overprint, it should look like this:
PHYSICAL STRUCTURES
| Overall Colour |
Cover: Dark Blue
Pages: Bluish-greenish |
| Watermark |
Shamrock, daffodil, rose and thistle in ribbon watermark. |
| Background Lettering |
BRITISHPASSPORT |
| Page |
Description |
Differences |
| Front Cover |
Document's Name
BRITISH PASSPORT
Country's Name
UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND
Coat-of-Arms
Golden printing, incuse. |
|
| Front Cover - Interior Side |
Diplomatic Request Page |
|
| Page 1 |
Document's Name
Country's Name
Passport Holder's Name
Passport Holder's Spouse' Name
Number of Accompanying Children
Nationality
Document's Number |
Spouse removed |
| Page 2 |
Physical Description
Signature |
|
| Page 3 |
Passport Holder's Photo
Wife (later, Spouse) Photo |
Spouse removed |
| Page 4 |
Permitted Countries
Passport Validity |
|
| Page 5 |
Observations |
|
| Page 6 until Page 28 |
Visas |
|
| Page 29 |
Foreign Exchange Facilities (Private Travel) |
Visas |
| Page 30 |
Foreign Exchange |
Emergency Contacts |
| Back Cover - Interior Side / Endpaper |
Foreign Exchange Facilities (Business, Professional, Official and Forces Travel) |
|
Until August 1988, the particulars of a wife or husband
(spouse) could be included in the UK passport if both partners were British citizens. This practice was discontinued when the EC common format passport was introduced.
LANGUAGES
The document was printed in English and French from page 1 to page 4, only for the field's / information's title. The contents were in English.
Details were handwritten into the passport in English.
DOCUMENT & COUNTRY'S NAME
PASSPORT
UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND.
ROYAUME-UNI DE GRANDE-BRETAGNE ET D'IRLANDE DU NORD. |
British Subject:
Citizen of the United
Kingdom and Colonies |
Later, changed to
DIPLOMATIC REQUEST PAGE
Her Britannic Majesty's Secretary of State
Requests and requires in the Name of Her Majesty all those whom it may concern to allow the bearer to pass freely without let or hindrance, and to afford the bearer such assistance and protection as may be necessary. |
This passport is valid for all countries unless otherwise endorsed (subject to any visa or other entry regulations of countries to be visited)
Ce passeport est valable pour tous pays, sauf mention spéciale (sous réserve des formalités de visas ou autres règlements d'entrée des divers pays) |
Empty.
PRINTER'S CODE
Different printer's code are noted, for example:
Page 29 and Back Cover (Interior / Endpaper):
M/742491/A**
NOTES & REGULATIONS
N O T E S
1 Validity A passport is valid for ten years, unless otherwise stated. If issued to a child under sixteen years of age it is normally valid for five years in the first instance but may be extended for a further five years without further charge. A passport which is ten years old or has no further space for visas must be replaced by a new one.
2 Citizenship and National Status British citizens have the right of abode in the United Kingdom. No right of abode in the United Kingdom derives from the status as British nationals of British Dependent Territories citizens, British Overseas citizens, British protected persons and British subjects.
3 Immigration and Visa Requirements The possession of a passport does not exempt the holder from compliance with any immigration regulations in force in any territory or from the necessity of obtaining a visa or permit where required. It should be noted in this connection that the majority of British territories overseas have immigration restrictions applicable to British nationals as well as aliens.
4 Family Passports A family passport which includes the particulars of the holder’s spouse can be used by the holder but NOT by the spouse when travelling alone.
5 Children Children who have reached the age of sixteen years require separate passports.
6 Registration Overseas British nationals resident overseas who are entitled to the protection of the United Kingdom authorities should contact the nearest British High Commission, Embassy or Consulate to enquire about any arrangements for registration of their names and addresses. Failure to do so may in an emergency result in difficulty or delay in according them assistance and protection.
7 Dual Nationality British nationals who are also nationals of another country cannot be protected by Her Majesty’s Representatives against the authorities of that country. If, under the law of that country, they are liable for any obligations (such as military service), the fact that they are British nationals does not exempt them from it. A person having some connection with a Commonwealth or foreign country (eg by birth, by descent through either parent, by marriage or by residence) may be a national of that country, in addition to being a British national. Acquisition of British nationality or citizenship by a foreigner does not necessarily cause the loss of nationality of origin.
8 Caution This passport remains the property of Her Majesty’s Government in the United Kingdom and may be withdrawn at any time. It should not be tampered with or passed to an unauthorised person. Any case of loss or destruction should be immediately reported to the local police and to the nearest British passport issuing authority (eg Passport Office, London; British Consulate; British High Commission or Colonial authority); only after exhaustive enquiries can a replacement be issued in such circumstances. The passport of a deceased person should be submitted for cancellation to the nearest such passport authority: it will be returned on request.
M/742491/A**
|
|
N O T E S
1 Validity A passport is valid for ten years, unless otherwise stated. If issued to a child under sixteen years of age it is normally valid for five years in the first instance but may be extended for a further five years without further charge. A passport which is ten years old or has no further space for visas must be replaced by a new one.
2 Immigration and Visa Requirements The possession of a passport does not exempt the holder from compliance with any immigration regulations in force in any territory or from the necessity of obtaining a visa or permit where required. It should be noted in this connexion that the majority of British territories overseas have immigration restrictions applicable to British subjects as well as aliens.
3 Family Passports A family passport which includes the particulars of the holder’s spouse can be used by the holder but NOT by the spouse when travelling alone.
4 Children Children who have reached the age of sixteen years require separate passports.
5 Registration Overseas British nationals resident overseas who are entitled to the protection of the United Kingdom authorities should contact the nearest British High Commission, Embassy or Consulate to enquire about any arrangements for registration of their names and addresses. Failure to do so may in an emergency result in difficulty or delay in according them assistance and protection.
6 Dual Nationality United Kingdom nationals who are also nationals of another country cannot be protected by Her Majesty’s representatives against the authorities of that country. If, under the law of that country, they are liable for any obligation (such as military service), the fact that they are United King om nationals does not exempt them from it. A person having some connexion with a Commonwealth or foreign country (eg by birth, by descent through either parent, by marriage or by residence) may be a national of that country, in addition to being a national of the United Kingdom. Acquisition of British nationality by a foreigner does not necessarily cause the loss of nationality of origin.
7 Caution This passport remains the property of Her Majesty’s Government in the United Kingdom and may be withdrawn at any time. It should not be tampered with or passed to an unauthorised person. Any case of loss or destruction should be immediately reported to the local police and to the nearest British passport issuing authority (eg Passport Office, London; British Consulate; British High Commission or Colonial authority); only after exhaustive enquiries can a replacement be issued in such circumstances. The passport of a deceased person should be submitted for cancellation to the nearest such passport authority: it will be returned on request.
M/4240**
|