Secret Art in the Passport

How we use it to fox the forger

Using illustrations from my collection of historic passports I show you how passport design developed from the handwritten paper to the technically complex document we use today and how art and artisanship has played an important yet secret part in this longstanding desire to confound the forger.

Once you have seen how the forgers have responded to the challenge of secret safeguards, you will never look at your passport in the same light again.

(A lecture with Powerpoint slides.)

Reviews

“Your lecture was well constructed and gently amusing. You immediately established a good rapport with the audience…. It was good to have a lecture that was so completely different from anything we had heard previously…” – Programme Secretary, the Arts Society, Turners Hill

“My granddaughter said, ‘it was actually very interesting.’ Coming from a teenage girl that’s quite an accolade!” – Programme Secretary, Bushey Arts Society

“Thank you so much for the excellent lecture you gave: it was hugely enjoyable and very well received by our members.” – Programme Secretary Leamington Spa Arts Society