1860 Contrata (Contract) for a Chinese Coolie Labourer in Havana Following Completion of His Primitive Contract, Signed in Chinese
by Government Of Havana
- Used
- Condition
- Good with no dust jacket
- Seller
-
Cochrane, Alberta, Canada
Payment Methods Accepted
About This Item
Havana, Cuba: Chinese Coolie Trade Emancipation Havana. Good with no dust jacket. 1860. Non-Book. On offer is a fascinating Contrata, being the second contract offered to Chinese coolie labourers after completing their first primitive contract. This contrata was given to a coolie who had been working in Havana when his initial contract ended in 1860. This contrata is written for Eduardo Echon, age 32 [Note: A Christian name assigned to Chinese coolies when they boarded the ship in Macau. For examples of this, see our collection of coolie ship manifests within the Chinese-Cuban collection]. In this contrata, Eduardo agrees to work for another four years and will work for Mr. Antonio Cabargo beginning December 1, 1860. The contract states very clearly that Eduardo may not stay in Cuba if he does not renew this contract or begin a new contract when this one expires (how will Eduardo get back to China? It would likely be impossible given the immense cost). The remainder of the contract discusses Eduardos obligations to his boss, and the boss obligation to Eduardo. Eduardo may have to work up to 7 days per week, for 12 hour days, and will be fed meals and allowed to rest when ill. The contract is signed by a member of Havana government, Jose Golon and in Chinese by Eduardo. It is also signed by three witnesses and contains handwritten notes below related to the renewal of the contract, signed by Golon. The Chinese coolie trade, a system of indentured labor that targeted young, poor Chinese men, operated from 1847-1874. Throughout this period, African slavery was slowly being abolished around the world. The coolie trade was initiated by Britain and was eventually dominated by both Britain and the United States of America. Chinese coolie laborers were sent to work in British, American and Spanish colonies, and the nature of the trade changed throughout its 27-year operation, due to social and political pressures. The coolie trade took place, in large part, between the shipping port in Macao (now a part of China, then under Portuguese rule) and Havana, Cuba (then under Spanish control). As Macau was under Portugese rule at the time of the coolie trade, they transported coolies on their vessels frequently and many of the documents related to the trade were written in Portuguese and/or Spanish. To learn more about the Chinese coolie trade and its importance in world history, click here to read our in-depth research blog on the topic. Since Chinese men who came to Cuba from Macau were extremely poor and often remained indebted to the master who purchased their initial primitive contract by the end of their work term, they were more or less forced to accept contratas such as this one. This is a vital piece of history connected to the Chinese coolie trade. This contrata measures approx 8.5x12.5 inches. It shows age toning and significant fraying at two edges. It is a single folio leaf, typewritten and filled in ink on the recto and verso. Spanish Language. Overall G. ; Manuscripts; 4to 11" - 13" tall; Signed by Author .
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Details
- Bookseller
- Katz Fine Manuscripts Inc. (CA)
- Bookseller's Inventory #
- 0012081A
- Title
- 1860 Contrata (Contract) for a Chinese Coolie Labourer in Havana Following Completion of His Primitive Contract, Signed in Chinese
- Author
- Government Of Havana
- Format/Binding
- Non-Book
- Book Condition
- Used - Good with no dust jacket
- Publisher
- Chinese Coolie Trade Emancipation Havana
- Place of Publication
- Havana, Cuba
- Date Published
- 1860
- Keywords
- Chinese Coolie Trade, EMANCIPATION, CUBAN Plantations, CUBAN Contracts
- Bookseller catalogs
- 19th Century Manuscript; 19th Century Ephemera;
Terms of Sale
Katz Fine Manuscripts Inc.
All items are guaranteed as stated for life or returnable for refund. If a refund is requested, seller must be notified within 7 days of postal delivery of the item based on postal tracking data. To receive a refund, the item must be returned to seller in the same condition in which it was received. All digital items are final sale.
About the Seller
Katz Fine Manuscripts Inc.
Biblio member since 2009
Cochrane, Alberta
About Katz Fine Manuscripts Inc.
Katz Fine Manuscripts Inc. (formerly M. Benjamin Katz Fine Books/Rare Manuscripts) is based out of both Ontario and Alberta, Canada. We do business by appointment, and have had an online presence selling fine books and rare manuscripts since 1999. Specializing in handwritten, historically significant books, manuscripts, diaries, documents and ephemera. A member of The Manuscript Societyeach treasure on offer is guaranteed authentic and as represented for life. Worldwide clientele includes esteemed collections and public, private and university libraries on both sides of the Atlantic and Pacific. Always buying collections and estates.
Katz Fine Manuscripts Inc.has been an online sales and auction presence with over 7000 transactions since 1999.
Katz Fine Manuscripts Inc.has been an online sales and auction presence with over 7000 transactions since 1999.
Glossary
Some terminology that may be used in this description includes:
- Recto
- The page on the right side of a book, with the term Verso used to describe the page on the left side.
- Edges
- The collective of the top, fore and bottom edges of the text block of the book, being that part of the edges of the pages of a...
- Remainder
- Book(s) which are sold at a very deep discount to alleviate publisher overstock. Often, though not always, they have a remainder...
- Jacket
- Sometimes used as another term for dust jacket, a protective and often decorative wrapper, usually made of paper which wraps...
- Poor
- A book with significant wear and faults. A poor condition book is still a reading copy with the full text still readable. Any...
- Verso
- The page bound on the left side of a book, opposite to the recto page.
- Folio
- A folio usually indicates a large book size of 15" in height or larger when used in the context of a book description. Further,...
- New
- A new book is a book previously not circulated to a buyer. Although a new book is typically free of any faults or defects, "new"...
- G
- Good describes the average used and worn book that has all pages or leaves present. Any defects must be noted. (as defined by AB...