Casablanca (Warner Bros., 1942), Paul Henreid "Victor Lazlo" Passport....

Description

Casablanca (Warner Bros., 1942), Paul Henreid "Victor Lazlo" Passport. Besides the alluring Ilsa Lund, so memorably played by Ingrid Bergman, nothing is more coveted in Casablanca than a way out of Morocco. To escape, one needs the legendary letters of transit - and just as critically, a passport. Offered here is an original production-made prop, manufactured by the famed Earl Hayes Press, known for crafting Hollywood's finest on-screen paper goods. The passport features a tan paper cover bearing the printed text: "Republique Francaise / Passeport / No 17418 / Nom: Laslo [sic] / Prenoms: Victor." The cover notably lacks the French cédille under the "c" in "Française," and the character's name is misspelled "Laslo" in 2- places-one of several small inconsistencies suggesting it was quickly produced. Though Henreid is not seen holding this specific prop onscreen, an identical-looking version is visible in the film when a man is directed to see Signor Ferrari (Sydney Greenstreet) at the Blue Parrot. The interior features 12-pages (nine of which are blank and marked with perforated "VOID" stamps), including 1-outlining Laszlo's physical characteristics opposite a black-and-white headshot of Henreid, with police-style stamps and his character's signature. Following pages show faux customs stamps charting Laszlo's journey from Oran, Algiers, and Oudjda to Casablanca and finally to New York, arriving "17/12/42." Red ink stamps on the final blank pages read: "Not Valid / For Motion Picture / Use Only." The passport exhibits bumped corners, a curled front cover with central creasing, adhesive loss, fading, and light ink stains. Comes with a COA from Heritage Auctions.

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