This French passport issued in 1853 demonstrates that nations were required, at times, to modify existing passports based on rapidly changing political realities. The person who issued the passport simply crossed out “French Republic” and replaced it with “Empire of France.” Napoleon III had come to power on 14 January 1852. Apparently pre-printed passports had not yet been replaced, at least in Marseille.
The passport does not separately list the “nationality” of the passport holder but does describe him as born in Lourmarin, en la región de Provenza-Alpes-Costa Azul, departamento de Vaucluse.