Name/Title
Refugee travel document (1951 Convention "Geneva passport"), issued by Spain to Francisco de Jesús Rivera Figueras (Paquito D'Rivera)Entry/Object ID
2025.18.3Description
Hardbound, passport-style booklet with a blue textured cover bearing, in black, the trilingual title "Documento de Viaje / Titre de Voyage / Travel Document," each with the parenthetical reference to the Convention of 28 July 1951, and two black diagonal stripes across the upper-left corner — the conventional marking of a 1951 Refugee Convention travel document. Interior leaves carry a green security underprint repeating "Convención del veintiocho de julio de 1951," the trilingual issuing text, and ruled manuscript fields completed in ink. The booklet states it contains 36 pages exclusive of the cover and appears complete.Context
It was issued to the multiawarded musician Paquito D’Rivera, who defected in Spain in 1980 so that he could travel to the United States to reunite with his mother.Acquisition
Accession
2025.18Source or Donor
Paquito D'RiveraAcquisition Method
GiftMade/Created
Manufacturer
Kingdom of SpainDate made
1980 - 9/5/1980Time Period
1980sPlace
City
MadridCountry
SpainContinent
EuropeNotes
Maker: Issuing authority: the Kingdom of Spain (país cuyas autoridades expiden el documento: España). Issued as a refugee travel document under Article 28 of the 1951 Refugee Convention.
Date: Issued 1980 (document No. ending "/80"); expires 5 September 1981. In range. Note: the "1951" throughout is the Convention reference, not the issue date.Inscription/Signature/Marks
Notes
Cover (printed/stamped, black): trilingual "Documento de Viaje / Titre de Voyage / Travel Document," each citing the 28 July 1951 Convention; two diagonal corner stripes.
Interior guilloché underprint: "Convención del veintiocho de julio de 1951" (repeating).
Manuscript holder entries (ink), recorded selectively below.
Holder data (personal document — selective recording):
Name / Apellido(s), Nombre(s): Rivera Figueras, Francisco de Jesús — i.e., the musician known as Paquito D'Rivera (public figure; recorded as the object's documented significance).
Place and date of birth: La Habana, Cuba; 4 June 1948.
Profession: músico (musician).
Authorized to return to / issuing country: España; permitted return period "un año."
Validity: expires 5 September 1981.
Accompanying children / spouse fields: none entered (struck through).
Withheld by default: the present-residence field (a Madrid street address). Document serial number is on file and can be included or masked at your direction.Materials
Material Notes
Materials: Textured blue leatherette/cloth over board (case-bound); printed paper interior leaves with green security tint; manuscript additions in ink.
Technique: Offset/letterpress printing (trilingual form and repeating security underprint); case-bound hardcover booklet; fields completed by hand.Condition
Overall Condition
Very GoodRelationships
Related Person or Organization
Person or Organization
Paquito D'RiveraNotes
ownerRelated Places
Place
City
MadridCountry
SpainContinent
EuropeNotes
issuanceResearch Notes
Notes
The personal exile travel document of Paquito D'Rivera, issued by Spain in 1980 after he sought asylum at the U.S. Embassy in Madrid while touring with Irakere. As a refugee, he could not travel on a Cuban national passport; Spain, as his country of lawful residence, issued this 1951 Convention document (valid one year) to enable onward travel — the bridge between his defection and his U.S. resettlement.Created By
María A. Cabrera ArúsCreate Date
March 21, 2026Updated By
María A. Cabrera ArúsUpdate Date
June 18, 2026
