1863-1865 Rare Contract of Emancipated Black Slave Feliciano of the Congo Whose Contract to Work Under Los Minas del Cobre Has Been Renewed
by Cuban Officials
- Used
- Signed
- Condition
- Very Good with no dust jacket
- Seller
-
Cochrane, Alberta, Canada
Payment Methods Accepted
About This Item
Havana, Cuba: Cuban Slave Trade Contract Havana. Very Good with no dust jacket. 1863. Non-Book. On offer is a remarkable early contract for an emancipated African slave whose contract to work under Los Minas del Cobre of Havana has been renewed for two years. The contract is for Feliciano, who was born in the Congo, Africa. The contract is from the Governor Captain General Superintendent of the Treasury of the Island of Cuba. It states that Feliciano is being consigned to del Cobre on a contract renewal. The number of years for which Feliciano is contracted says tres (three) but that number is crossed out, and a note indicating the duration of the contract renewal is handwritten at the bottom of the contract. The contract indicates that Feliciano was slave #164, brought from the Congo to Cuba on the ship Guantanamo (which was later used to transport Chinese coolies from Macau). The contract states that in exchange for Felicianos work, he will be paid 5 pesos and 33 ? Cents every month, and that the contract cannot be changed without authorization from the Havana government. The back of the contract contains all of the rules that must be followed by the worker and the boss. There is a heavy slant toward discussion of penalties for the worker escaping and breaking rules as well as discussion of baptism and religiosity. The contract was signed in Havana on January 21, 1863 by the Secretary of the General Superintendent, Jose (Vallz? ). There is a handwritten note at the bottom indicating the contract would renew on December 21, 1865, also signed by the Superintendent. Contracts such as this one were provided to emancipated slaves after completion of a primitive contract. Cuba had a great need for inexpensive labour to support their sugar industry. While America and Britain signed a treaty in 1814 to abolish the African slave trade, it took many years for complete global abolition. The African slave trade was not ended in Cuba until 1886, despite it being formally abolished in 1867 (Yun & Laremont, 2001). The details of this contract closely align with contracts of Chinese coolie labourers, and the printed nature of this contract implies that many emancipated African slaves were contracted following their emancipation. Based on knowledge of the contracted Chinese labourers, we know that conditions for indentured workers were equal to, or worse than, those of slaves. This document is printed and filled out in ink. It is two pages on recto and verso of a single sheet. It measures 8x12 inches. It exhibits age toning and creasing appropriate to its age. Overall VG. ; Manuscripts; 4to 11" - 13" tall; Signed by Author .
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Details
- Bookseller
- Katz Fine Manuscripts Inc. (CA)
- Bookseller's Inventory #
- 0012079
- Title
- 1863-1865 Rare Contract of Emancipated Black Slave Feliciano of the Congo Whose Contract to Work Under Los Minas del Cobre Has Been Renewed
- Author
- Cuban Officials
- Format/Binding
- Non-Book
- Book Condition
- Used - Very Good with no dust jacket
- Publisher
- Cuban Slave Trade Contract Havana
- Place of Publication
- Havana, Cuba
- Date Published
- 1863
- Keywords
- CUBAN Slave Trade, EMANCIPATION, Black Cuban, CUBAN Plantations
- 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:
- Jacket
- Sometimes used as another term for dust jacket, a protective and often decorative wrapper, usually made of paper which wraps...
- Recto
- The page on the right side of a book, with the term Verso used to describe the page on the left side.
- VG
- Very Good condition can describe a used book that does show some small signs of wear - but no tears - on either binding or...
- Verso
- The page bound on the left side of a book, opposite to the recto page.