Recent Acquisitions

The American Antiquarian Society's collections are always growing and AAS curators are always seeking new material to expand its coverage and improve the strength of the Society's holdings for the Caribbean region.

In particular, AAS is excited about its expanding collection of Caribbean law volumes, having recently acquired substantial legal holdings regarding Jamaica, the Bahamas, and Barbados, as well as volumes describing the laws of the Cayman Islands, Trinidad, St. Lucia, Bermuda, and Turks and Caicos.

Title

Description

Haiti, Loi Sur les Patentes

(In French) "Patentes" in this case does not refer to "patents," but rather to licenses and trade duties. This 1829 Haitian law spells out the licensing obligations of several careers, from doctors and surgeons to painters and artists.

Laws of the Cayman Islands, 1865-1889

An extremely rare edition of the laws in force in the Cayman Islands in 1889, this volume was published in Kingston and contained laws enacted both on Grand Cayman and in Jamaica. It provides rare insight into a group of islands otherwise under-represented in print culture.

The Jamaica Almanack for the Year 1832

This classic bound almanac  is especially distinguished for a beautiful foldout before the title page that features images of the flags used by various European nations on their maritime voyages to the Caribbean.

Cuba, Aranceles Generales

(In Spanish) This thorough and complete table listed the exact tariffs and duties, both import and export, that the Cuban government levied in 1834 on fruits.

Cuba, Memoria sobre los Medios de Animar la Crianza del Ganado

(In Spanish) This animal husbandry instructional guide, primarily dealing with cows and mules, contains recommendations for how standard practices in Cuba could be improved. 

Haiti, Addresse de L'Assemblee Provinciale de la Partie du Nord

(In French) Written in 1790, during the French Revolution but before the seeds of the Haitian Revolution that would follow, this document records an official communique from the Assembly in Haiti to the National Assembly in Paris, desiring "calm and peace" and an "eternal union" with France. 

Jamaica, An Act for Raising a Tax by the Poll

Another of AAS's excellent and growing collection of Jamaican Laws, this particular Act establishes two things: 1) taxes on slaves, horses, coaches, and more; 2) how slaves must be enumerated for tax purposes.