Passport

Passport issued in 1894 by the Korean Foreign Ministry (Tongni Gyosop Tongsang Samu Amun 統理交涉通商事務衙門) to an American whose name appears transliterated as Panam 巴南. This is presumably "Farnum", referring to either John Edward Farnum or his brother George L. Farnum, since they are listed in the museum records as being the source of this item.The passport is printed on paper with brush-written entries in black ink, highlighting and signature in red, and the square impression of the seal of the Foreign Ministry. The text, in classical Chinese, guarantees the holder entry at the port of Wonsan, and protected travel through the Provinces of Gyeonggi, Gangwon, Hamgyeong and Pyeongan without hindrance or detention by officials along the route. This appears to be the right-hand side of the document which was issued to the bearer, while the left-hand side was cut off and presumably retained by the administration.