made in Turkey
This document wallet was made in Turkey in 1697. It is made of dark green silk velvet mounted on leather. The picture shows both the back (above) and the front of the wallet. The inscriptions and date show that the wallet was used for a Dutch person's passport.
The wallet is embroidered with fine silver wire with a design of palmette scroll. Under the flap, the scroll reads 'JACOBUS BISANTIUS DE HOCHEPIED' (the owner's name), and on the back 'CONSTANTINOPOLI 1697'.
Members of the Dutch diplomatic and merchant communities were well established in the Pera quarter of Constantinople from the 17th century onwards.
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