It was issued to a Malay woman and being born in Penang during the era of Straits Settlements, she was entitled to hold a
British Subject citizenship. Even after 1957
Merdeka Day, perhaps unbeknownst to her, she was still holding dual nationalities,
Citizen of the United Kingdom and Colonies and newly independent
Federation of Malaya.
As with other document from the same era, illiterate person who cannot write a signature properly usually opted for the use of finger print impression as probably in this case, her right thumb print.
It was issued for her pilgrimage visit to Mecca as stated on the countries she was allowed to visit. This passport however was not stamped as immigration stampings were all made in the
Pilgrim Pass and pages are in crisp condition as if were never opened.
The document is in a
poor condition judging from the amount and severity of worm holes. Paper-worm holes can be seen quite bad from the back cover as some did make a hole through from front to back cover. Despite the condition, it actually has been helpful into identifying its era varieties.
Model A : Federation of Malaya 1948 — 1957 (British Malaya)FEDERATION OF MALAYA (1948 - 1957)
Passport for the Federation of Malaya may be separated into two periods, after the formation of the Federation of Malaya in 1948 and after the Independence of the federation on 31 August 1957.
The issued passports were of old-blue format
BRITISH PASSPORT and inscribed
FEDERATION OF MALAYA under the coat-of-arms of the government of the United Kingdom.
Two languages were used from page 1 to page 5:
English and
French.
Passports issued during this period were known to be kept valid even after the independence and another post-independence five-year extension was allowed.
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| Variety I |
Variety II |
 |
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| Variety III |
Variety V |
Four varieties were seen. They are mainly differentiated by the paper background's colour and request page.
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VARIETY I |
VARIETY II |
VARIETY III |
VARIETY IV |
VARIETY V |
| Record Locator |
MP-6
2021/6 ♦ |
MP-52
MP-71 |
MP-26
MP-623 |
2021/7 ♦ |
MP-8
MP-625 |
High Commissioner /
Secretary |
HENRY LOVELL GOLDSWORTHY GURNEY |
MOROBOË VINCENZO DEL TUFO |
GERALD WALTER ROBERT TEMPLER |
Without commissioner's name |
| Paper |
Light -Purple |
Bluish-White |
| Background Micro-text printing |
No |
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland |
| Passport Number (Page 1) |
Manually written down |
Pre-printed |
| Signature Slip |
Page 3 |
Page 2 |
| Permitted Countries |
Handwritten endorsement |
Pre-printed |
Similar to variety 2, but blocked/struck out and later handwritten endorsement |
Pre-printed |
Handwritten endorsement |
| Observations |
Manually written down |
Pre-printed |
| Notes the back cover |
Different from other varieties. |
With addendum glued. |
Similar to variety 2 and with addendum glued. |
Similar to variety 2 and with addendum glued. |
Similar to variety 2 but without an addendum |
| Date Seen |
26/10/1950 — 26/10/1955
29/11/1950 — 29/11/1955 |
14/04/1951 — 14/04/1956 |
24/11/1951 — 24/11/1956✭
15/11/1951 — 15/11/1956
20/12/1951 — 20/12/1956 |
01/08/1952 |
28/02/1956 — 28/02/1961 |
Notes:
♦ Is in PaperToTravel's archive, but not yet processed.
✭ Seen, but not in PaperToTravel's archive.
HIGH COMMISSIONERS
Sir Henry Lovell Goldsworthy Gurney was the High Commissioner for the Federation of Malaya from 1 October 1948 until he was gunned down on 6 October 1951 by a communist guerrilla near Fraser's Hill, Malaya.
Moroboë Vincenzo del Tufo was Colonial Administrative Service / Chief Secretary for Federation of Malaya from 1950 to 1952, acted as the highest officer in the administration, Malaya's High Commissioner while waiting for the arrival of a new High Commissioner, General Sir Gerald Templer. Shortly after the arrival of the new High Commissioner in 1952, Mr. del Tufo submitted a request to be allowed to retire on the ground that the recent reorganisation of the higher posts in the Federation had radically changed his position.
Winston Churchill appointed
General Sir Gerald Walter Robert Templer as the British High Commissioner for Malaya to deal with the Malayan Emergency on 22 January 1952 and he relinquished the post in October 1954.
SPECULATION
It was probably since 1955 when the Federation of Malaya was granted self-rule after Federal Legislative Council members were elected, the name of the British High Commissioner was dropped from the request page.
PHYSICAL STRUCTURE
None of these varieties has the Foreign Exchange (on page 31 or page 32) unlike the regular British Passport issued during this similar period.
Variety I
| PAGE |
DESCRIPTION |
| |
Front cover |
| |
Request page |
| 1 |
Country's name, document type, document number (handwritten) and nationality |
| 2 |
Document holder's information |
| 3 |
Document holder's photo and signature |
| 4 |
Permitted countries, date of issue and date of expiry. |
| 5 |
Passport's extension of validity / renewal, observations |
| 6 - 32 |
Visas |
| |
Interior of Back-Cover - Regulations. |
| PAGE |
DESCRIPTION |
| |
Front cover |
| |
Request page |
| 1 |
Country's name, document type, document number (pre-printed) and nationality |
| 2 |
Document holder's information |
| 3 |
Document holder's photo and signature |
| 4 |
Permitted countries, date of issue and date of expiry. |
| 5 |
Passport's extension of validity / renewal, observations |
| 6 - 32 |
Visas |
| |
Interior of Back-Cover - Notes / Notice to Travellers. |
| PAGE |
DESCRIPTION |
| |
Front cover |
| |
Request page |
| 1 |
Country's name, document type, document number (pre-printed) and nationality |
| 2 |
Document holder's information |
| 3 |
Document holder's photo and signature |
| 4 |
Permitted countries, date of issue and date of expiry. |
| 5 |
Passport's extension of validity / renewal, observations |
| 6 - 32 |
Visas |
| |
Interior of Back-Cover - Notes. |
In variety V, the signature area was moved to page 2.
NATIONALITY
With respect to British Nationality Act 1948, the people residing in the Malay States were holding British citizenship status known as
British Protected Person, Federation of Malaya.
Those residing in the former Straits Settlements of Penang or Malacca were holding different citizenship status known as
British Subject; Citizen of the United Kingdom and Colonies.
The nationality status of the passport holder was rubberstamped at the bottom of page 1.
BRITISH PROTECTED PERSON,
FEDERATION OF MALAYA. |
or those from Penang or Malacca
British Subject;
Citizen of the United Kingdom & Colonies. |
The original pre-printed text.
BRITISH COMMONWEALTH (See Note 3)
ALL COUNTRIES IN EUROPE including the Union of Soviet Republics and Turkey. |
| NOT VALID FOR TRAVEL TO, OR THROUGH, COUNTRIES FOR WHICH A MILITARY, OR CONTROL COMMISSION, OR OTHER SPECIAL PERMIT IS REQUIRED, UNLESS SUCH PERMIT HAS FIRST BEEN OBTAINED. |
There are spaces to be filled for name and gender respectively.
I, Henry Lovell Goldsworthy Gurney, Knight Commander of the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George, High Commissioner in and for the Federation of Malaya,
Request and require in the name of His Majesty all those whom it may concern to allow .......... to pass freely without let or hindrance, and to afford .......... every assistance and protection of which .......... may stand in need.
Given at King's House, Kuala Lumpur, the 29th day of November, 1950.
By His Excellency's Command,
CHIEF SECRETARY,
FEDERATION OF MALAYA.
|
It has no space for name except for date to fill unlike
Variety I to fill the passport holder's name.
I, Henry Lovell Goldsworthy Gurney, Knight Commander of the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George, High Commissioner in and for the Federation of Malaya,
Request and require in the name of His 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.
Given at King's House, Kuala Lumpur, the .......... day of .........., 19...........
By His Excellency's Command,
CHIEF SECRETARY,
FEDERATION OF MALAYA.
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I, Moroboë Vincenzo del Tufo, Companion of the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George, Officer Administering the Government of the Federation of Malaya,
Request and require in the name of His 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.
Given at King's House, Kuala Lumpur the .......... day of .........., 19...........
By His Excellency's Command,
Chief Secretary,
Federation of Malaya.
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REGULATIONS.
1. British Passports are issued by the competent authorities throughout the British Empire and by British Diplomatic and Consular Offices abroad. Applications should be made in the authorised forms obtainable from those authorities.
2. British Passports are issued at the Passport Office, Penang. Applications for Passports may, however, if it suits the convenience of an applicant, be received in the first instance at the Immigration Office, Kuala Lumpur. Passports can not be issued or renewed at the above-mentioned offices for persons not at the time resident in the Federation of Malaya. Passports may not be sent abroad by post.
3. The fee for a Passport is $6.
4. Passports are made valid for a period of five years in the first instance, unless otherwise stated. They may be renewed from time to time for further consecutive periods of one to five years from the date of expiry, provided the total period of validity of ten years from the original date of issue is not exceeded. The fee for each year of renewal is $1.
5. British Passports are not available beyond ten years from the original date of issue. Thereafter, or if at any time the Passport contains no further space for visas, a new Passport must be obtained.
6. A Passport which includes particulars of the holder's wife is not available for the wife's use when travelling alone.
7. Children who have reached the age of sixteen years require separate Passports.
8. A Passport is only available for travel to the countries named on page 4, but may be endorsed for additional countries (fee $1). The possession of a Passport so endorsed does not, however, exempt the holder from compliance with any Immigration regulations in force in British or foreign countries or from the necessity of obtaining a visa where required.
9. Passports endorsed as valid for the British Empire are also available for travelling to territory under British protection or mandate, not, however, including the Aden Protectorate, for which a special endorsement is required.
10. It is most important that British Subjects resident abroad should at the earliest opportunity, register their names and addresses at the nearest British Consulate. Failure to register may in a period of emergency result in difficulty or delay in according to British Subjects the assistance and protection to which they are entitled. Changes of address or departure from the country should also be notified to the Consulate.
CAUTION.
This Passports is a valuable document. It should not be altered in any way or allowed to pass into the possession of an authorised person. If lost or destroyed the fact and circumstances should be immediately reported to the Passport Office, Penang, or the nearest British Consulate or British authority and to the local Police. New Passports can only be issued in such cases after exhaustive enquiries.
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NOTES
1. British passports are issued and renewed by the competent authorities in the United Kingdom and Colonies and by His Majesty's diplomatic and Consular Officers abroad, and by United Kingdom High Commissioners in Commonwealth countries, to whom application should be made. Passports should not be sent from one country to another by post.
2. They are available for five years in the first instance, unless otherwise states, and may be renewed from time to time for further consecutive periods of one to five years from the date of expiry, provided the total period of validity of ten years from the original date is not exceeded. The fee for each year of renewal is $1. They are not available beyond ten years from the original date of issue. If at any time the passport contains no further space for visas, a new passport must be obtained.
3. They are only available for travel to the countries named on page 4, but may be endorsed for additional countries (fee $1). The possession of a passport so endorsed does not exempt the holder from compliance with any immigration regulations in force in the territories name, or from the necessity of obtaining a visa or permit where required. Passports endorsed as valid for the British Commonwealth are also available, for travelling to territory under British protection or trusteeship, not. however, including the Aden Protectorate for which a specific endorsement is required.
4. A passport including particulars of the holder's wife is not available for the wife's use when she is travelling alone.
5. Children who have reached the age of sixteen years require separate passports.
REGISTRATION AT HIS MAJESTY'S CONSULATES ABROAD
It is most important that persons naturalised in the United Kingdom and Colonies resident abroad should register annually at a British Consulate, otherwise they may render themselves liable in certain circumstances to deprivation of citizenship.
British subjects, citizens of the United Kingdom and Colonies who are resident abroad should at the earliest opportunity register their names and addresses at the nearest British Consulate. Failure to do so may in a period of emergency result in difficulty or delay in according them the assistance and protection to which they are entitled. Changes of address or departure from the country should also be notified to the Consulate.
DUAL NATIONALITY
Persons born abroad of British fathers or born in the United Kingdom or Colonies of foreign parents, women married to aliens, and naturalised persons may possess a foreign nationality in addition to British nationality.
When in the country of their second nationality such persons cannot avail themselves of the protection of His Majesty's representatives against the authorities of the foreign country, and are not exempt, by reason of possessing British nationality, from any obligation (such as military service) to which they may liable under the foreign law.
CAUTION
This passport remains the property of the Government by which it is issued and may be withdrawn of the holder ceases to be entitled to the protection of His Majesty's Government.
It is a valuable document and should not be altered in any way or allowed to pass into the possession of an unauthorised person. If lost or destroyed, the fact and circumstances should be immediately reported to the Passport Office, London, or the nearest British Consulate, Colonial authority or High Commission and to the local police. New passports can only be issued in such cases after exhaustive enquiries.
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NOTICE TO TRAVELLERS
HOLDERS OF BRITISH PASSPORTS visiting Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Poland, Roumania or the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics are advised, in their own interests, to furnish to the nearest British Consular Officer on arrival particulars of their passports and home addresses together with details of their itinerary. This information should, if possible, be given in person rather than by letter.
They should keep in close touch with the appropriate British Consulate during their visit and after leaving the country they should notify the Consul to whom they last reported.
Naturalised British subjects are warned that in their country of origin they may be regarded as still possessing the nationality of that country. Their attention is drawn to the note on Dual Nationality inside the back cover of their passport, and they should make sure before entering their country of origin that the authorities regard them as having ceased to be nationals of that country.
Passport Office,
July 1950.
Imm. 89 - 28356 - 5,000 - 11/50
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Note: Last footnote showing numbers has different varieties too.
Variety II
| Imm. 89 - 28356 - 5,000 - 11/50 |
CURATED DOCUMENTS FROM THIS ERA
| CUID |
DATE |
DESCRIPTION |
| MP-38 |
02/01/1949
02/02/1949 |
Federation of Malaya - Certificate of Identity |