Description

Description: This 1722 part-printed Italian health passport declares that the bearer is “free of every suspicion of plague”. Outbreaks of plague occurred every few decades in 17th and 18th century Europe and travelers would often be denied entry to a city without similar official documentation attesting to their good health.

The Great Plague of Marseille took place between 1720 and 1722, right at the time this bill of health was issued. William Edward Mead in The Grand Tour in the Eighteenth Century describes his travels in Italy and notes “that they will admit no stranger within the wals of their citie, except he bringeth a bill of health from the last citie he came from, to testify that he was free from all manner of contagious sicknesse…”

Both the printed and handwritten text are in Italian. 5 1/4″ x 7 1/2″. Item #DA00461

Condition: Fold lines, small hole in center, generally very good condition.