A Man from Taured

"The World is a book & those do not travel read only one page" (Saint Augustine)

It was July 1954 at Tokyo Hanaeda Airport in Japan. While checking the passport of a European business traveller, the customs officers notice that he was from a state called TAURED, a country that does not appear on any map.

Yet his papers, given the codes and standards of the time, look perfectly authentic. Numerous Visas show that this passenger travels all over the world. Strangely enough, this would be his third business trip to Japan and many airports since his departure from Paris have given him permission to continue his journey.

A world map was brought in to identify where Taured was. The traveller indicated a country between France and Spain, but the customs officers told him it was the Principality of Andorra. Between anger and confusion this foreigner did not seem to understand why the name Taured was not on the map.

This business traveller then showed numerous documents attesting to the existence of this country, such as cheque books, stamps, bank notes, driving licences and invoices. However, the Japanese company with which he claimed to work had never heard of this man, although he had in his possession many documents to prove his link with the employer. Similarly, the hotel where he said he had booked a room had no registration in his name.

Puzzled, as it was late, the authorities took him to an airport hotel until

the mystery could be unravelled. But although his room was guarded all night by two guards outside, the next morning the police found it empty.

He had not been able to escape through the window as it was several floors high and had no balcony. Also, all his documents and money from different countries had disappeared from the permanently kept customs safe.

A small state originally created by Charlemagne on the «Marches of Spain», the Principality of Taured has existed as such for over a thousand years. This example of real passport is proof of this. This official document allows travel throughout the world and beyond.

#Taured #Taured_Principality #ManOfTaured #Tauredian #TauredPassport #Haneda1954