Reisdocument Possibly 1833 - 1837

This anonymous reisdocument, or travel document, from 1832, offers a glimpse into the social dynamics of 19th-century travel in Germany. Printed with ornate lettering, this “Schnellpost Cours” or express mail coach, details a journey from Elberfeld to Iserlohn. It lists payment for passenger fare, including tips for the postman to be paid from the post office, baggage fees and freight per pound. The document also notes that 30 pounds of luggage are free. We can only imagine the negotiations, or the class distinctions inherent in such transactions. What does it mean to have your name attached to a journey, to have it recorded and accounted for? What does it mean not to be named? This reisdocument is a poignant reminder of how travel, then as now, was shaped by economic status, underscoring the complex relationship between mobility, identity, and power.