Plakat Passport of Ruth

1 Name: Ruth

This is a sample of a placard passport that was issued in 1835 when the most people in the region of Latvia had serious mobility restrictions.

The passport was a paper sheet with a form printed on both sides - on one side the text was in Russian and on the other side in German. The image below demonstrates the general view of the Russian side.

Its main difference from the German side was the deformed picture of the State Emblem at the upper lefthand corner, the German side had not this picture.

In this image some important information is also added - the passports of this kind could be given not more than for 1 year and they cost 5 Roubles that for many persons was really good money then. For example, the yearly salary of a woman farmhand was at that time 1 Rouble in cash plus some agriculture products.

As the both sides of the passport evidently had equal legal sense, it seems reasonable to copy here the German text (the text in Italic was written in the document by hand):

Auf Allerhöchsten Befehl
Sr. Kayserlichen Majestät

Nikolai Pawlowitsch,

Selbstherrschers aller Reussen

u. s.w. u. s. w. u. s. w.

Vorzeigerin dieses, die Tochter der sub No. 422 in hiesigen Bürger Oklad angeschriebener Gustaw Benjamin Ruth, mit Namen Emilie Henriette Sophie Ruth, wird in ihren eigenen Angelegenheiten entlassen, in verschiedene Städte und Ortschaften des Russischen Reichs, vom 24 Dec. 1800, Fünf und Dreyssig auf Ein Jahr d.h. des Jahres Tausend Achthundert Sechs und Dreyssig, bis den 24ten December, nach Ablauf dieses Termins aber muß sie sich wieder melden: im entgegengesetzten Fall ist sie der Strenge der Gesetzte unterworfen. Ausgefertigt nach dem Dokument, welches unter No 157 im Buche eingetragen ist, beym Magistrat der Gerichts Fläcken Schlock mit Beybrückung des Siegels. Den 24ten December Tausend Achthundert Fünf und Dreyssig.

Bürgermeister

Syndicus

Now my translation:

On the order of
His Emperial Majesty

Nikolas Pavlovich.,

The sovereign of all Rusians

etc. etc. etc.

The bearer of this, the daughter of Gustav Benjamin Ruth registered in the local register of petty-bourgeois upon Nr. 422, whose name is Emilie Henriette Sophie Ruth, is discharged for her own affairs to various towns and localities of the Russia Empire beginning from Dec, 24, 1800 thirty five for one year i.e. till the year Thousand eight hundred thirty six December 24. At the end of this term she should return, otherwise she will be prosecuted with all strength of the Law. This was made by Schlock town Council based on the document included in the Book upon Nr.157 and was stamped with the town stamp. December 24 thousand eight hundred thirty five.

Town mayor

Secretary