Passport (No. 45637) to visit the Continent
Single folded printed sheet of blue paper, watermarked 'Whatman', with MSS ink additions, authorising Andrew Cockcroft to travel on the Continent, issued March 1857 by George, Earl of Clarendon, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (with his facsimile signature and coat of arms printed at foot), Royal arms at head of document, signed by Cockcroft, with blind duty stamp 'FIVE SHILLINGS' at lower left corner, both sides with diplomatic stamps, laid down at upper left corner in leather wallet, gilt inscribed with Cockcroft's name and that of W.J. Adams, Passport Agent, with blank notebook, first four pages showing further stamps and last three pencil notes (presumably by Cockcroft), with inserted pencil.
It has not been possible to definitively identify Andrew Cockcroft but from the notes he appears to have been a traveller for the textile industry. The notes mention mills, production levels and one Mr Franks' displeasure with some discharged silk which evidently had 'too many ?shocks in the middle'. He may well have lived or worked in Manchester as although the first consular stamps for France and Germany were from London, there is a French stamp for 1871 from Manchester.

William James Adams, the agent, is most famous for his role as Bradshaw's agent in London, in which role he played a large part in promoting the famous Guide. Apart from his publishing career, he was also a famously efficient passport agent, renowned for the speed with which he acquired the necessary visas. He was the first agent listed in Baedecker's Egypt (not an alphabetical listï¾Ã‚…) which may suggest the power of his reputation. It appears passports became standardised documents in 1855 so this is from the early years of their issue.