Lot 64
Danish West Indies.- Danish Laws (The): or, the Trade of Christian the Fifth..., first edition in English, for N.Gibson, 1756.
Hammer Price: £300
Description
Danish West Indies.- Danish Laws (The): or, the Trade of Christian the Fifth...for the Use of the English Inhabitants of the Danish Settlements in America, first edition in English, issue with pp.91 & 106 misnumbered 61 & 06 respectively and p.59 numbered correctly, woodcut ornaments and initials, browned, contemporary calf, rubbed, rebacked, red morocco label, corners repaired, [Sabin 18501], 8vo, for N.Gibson, 1756.
⁂ By 1756, Danish territories in the Americas included Greenland and the Danish West Indies (now the U.S. Virgin Islands), comprising the islands of St.Thomas, St.John and, from 1733, St.Croix. The economy of the Danish West Indies was almost wholly based on sugar and tobacco production by slave labour. The West Indian possessions were administered by the Danish West India and Guinea Company until 1754 when the Danish government's "Chamber of Revenues" took over control. However, without the benefit of a trade monopoly like the Dutch West India Company, the financially troubled company was liquidated in 1776.
The Danish Code of Christian V had been developed by various Commissions under both King Frederick III (1648-1670) and Charles V (1670-1699), Charles himself signing his approval of the Code in 1682; it is regarded as an exemplar of a near-perfect modern legal system.
Description
Danish West Indies.- Danish Laws (The): or, the Trade of Christian the Fifth...for the Use of the English Inhabitants of the Danish Settlements in America, first edition in English, issue with pp.91 & 106 misnumbered 61 & 06 respectively and p.59 numbered correctly, woodcut ornaments and initials, browned, contemporary calf, rubbed, rebacked, red morocco label, corners repaired, [Sabin 18501], 8vo, for N.Gibson, 1756.
⁂ By 1756, Danish territories in the Americas included Greenland and the Danish West Indies (now the U.S. Virgin Islands), comprising the islands of St.Thomas, St.John and, from 1733, St.Croix. The economy of the Danish West Indies was almost wholly based on sugar and tobacco production by slave labour. The West Indian possessions were administered by the Danish West India and Guinea Company until 1754 when the Danish government's "Chamber of Revenues" took over control. However, without the benefit of a trade monopoly like the Dutch West India Company, the financially troubled company was liquidated in 1776.
The Danish Code of Christian V had been developed by various Commissions under both King Frederick III (1648-1670) and Charles V (1670-1699), Charles himself signing his approval of the Code in 1682; it is regarded as an exemplar of a near-perfect modern legal system.
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