Theme

Business, Trade, and Economic History

Featured Items

Detail of a hand colored manuscript estate plan shows a large compass rose and trees on the estate.

[Estate plan of 300 acres of land near Holetown, Barbados]

John Hapcott
1646
Detail of a hand-colored manuscript map shows small depth markers, forest, and a label "Nuevitas" and other surrounding landmarks.

Plano del Puerto de Nuevitas en la Costa Norte de la Isla de Cuba levantado para mejor conocimiento por orden del Dto. Maritimo

circa 1828
Detail from a weathered printed document, that includes manuscript inscriptions, shows text in English from the president of the united states.

Sea letter, Brigantine Neptune, July 26, 1793

1793
Printed document shows details of a sugar plantation with manuscript notes.

Particulars of two valuable sugar plantations, St. Kitts . . .

Brettell, Rupert Street, Haymarket
1828
Detail of an engraved map shows mountainous topography and text in Italian.

Descrittione di tutto il Peru

Paulo di Forlani
circa 1564-1572
Detail of a printed book shows a page with text in French and an illustration on the opposite page.

Code Noir: ou Recueil d’edits, déclarations et arrets concernant les Esclaves Nègres de l’Amérique

1743
Detail of calf-bound book shows worn spine, embossed detail, and stamped title.

Secrete resolutien van de edele groot mog...

Johan de Witt
1717
Detail of a printed book shows a circular illustration and text in Spanish.

Suma de geographia...

Martin Fernandez de Enciso
1546

Related

Image of Guaman Poma de Ayala scribe
New Acquisitions

Recent Acquisition on Commercial Bureaucracy in the Spanish Empire

June 29
text and diagrams related to early printing

The Illustrated Colonial Printer: An Exhibition to Accompany The Colonial Printer by Lawrence Wroth

Winter 2012
handwriting sample with scrawls in the shape of a bird

Mind Your Business: Records of Early American Commerce at the John Carter Brown Library

Fall 2012
A view of the Strait of Magellan from the Agnese Atlas

Gateway to a New World

July-October 2019
worn, yellow-tinted pages of a 19th century almanac
New Acquisitions

An almanac well-worn through regular use

July 27
photograph of dr. Christy clark-pujara at the John Carter brown library during a presentation

Watch "Dark Work: The Business of Slavery in Rhode Island"

May 1
photograph of elizabeth heath, assistant professor of history at Baruch College-CUNY

Elizabeth Heath Creates Digital Map to Explore Colonial France

May 1
Fresh Ink

Fresh Ink: Spanish Dollars and Sister Republics by Tatiana Seijas

May 1

See Also

Nahuatl

Colonial Law