Rare Book Monthly
Book Catalogue Reviews - May - 2007 Issue
New Titles at Bauman Rare Books
Mona Lisa, still young and mysterious in 1912.
For balance, let's pick on the Americans. Item 16 is a manuscript ledger book from 1764-66 for Charleston, South Carolina mercantile firm Hogg and Clayton. They traded many items. Unfortunately, one of those was humans. They made several purchases from Middleton, Liston and Hope, one of the largest importers of slaves. There is a purchase of 10 "boys and girls" for £140 each, 31 for a total of £4,000, and another 34 "Negroes" for £140 each. On July 26, 1766, the firm noted net proceeds from sales of slaves as £13,800, with gains of £5,919. Anything for money. $15,000.
Here is a man well-known on both sides of the Atlantic -- Sir Walter Raleigh. Raleigh arranged the first British settlement in America, at Roanoke Island. Actually, he formed two there, though he did not stick around himself. The first disbanded in failure, returning to England. The second group was isolated from England for several years, and when contact was finally made, the settlers had disappeared. It is known as the "Lost Colony," and the colonists' fate remains unknown. Raleigh was also an explorer, writer, and court favorite (at times) of Queen Elizabeth. After her death, things did not go so well. King James threw him into the Tower of London, where he was imprisoned for many years. Finally released from prison to conduct an exploration in South America, some of his men attacked the Spanish outpost at San Thome. Raleigh swore he had nothing to do with it, but the Spanish ambassador demanded his execution and King James complied. Item 110 is a collection of four Raleigh essays, Judicious and Select Essayes and Observations... published in 1650, 32 years after his death. Among them is his Apologie, in which he blames his crew for the unauthorized raid on San Thome, describing them as "the very scumme of the world: drunkards, blasphemers." Unfortunately for Raleigh, his Apologie was not accepted. $3,500.
Bauman Rare Books may be found online at www.baumanrarebooks.com, telephone 215-546-6466.
