Tariffikirja

Tariffikirja is a Finnish term that refers to a type of travel document issued by the Finnish government. The name "tariffikirja" is derived from the Swedish word "tarifferbok," meaning a travel document that records a person's movement across a border. In Finnish, the word "tariffikirja" has been used to describe this type of document since the 19th century.

Historically, tariffikirja was used to regulate trade and travel between Finland and other countries, particularly Sweden, with which Finland had close economic ties. The document contained information about the traveler, including their name, address, and purpose of travel. It also recorded the dates and routes of travel.

In the early 20th century, the Finnish government introduced a standardized passport, which gradually replaced the tariffikirja. However, the term "tariffikirja" continued to be used in Finland as a historical reference to the early travel documents.

Today, the concept of tariffikirja is largely of historical interest, with the standardization of passports and electronic travel documents having largely rendered the term obsolete. Nevertheless, the story of tariffikirja provides insight into the ways in which early governments regulated movement and interaction between countries and peoples.

In some quarters, the term "tariffikirja" may still be encountered in discussions of Finnish history and cultural heritage. In this context, it serves as a reminder of the early days of international travel and trade, and the unofficial documents that facilitated these processes.