Author: BERNAGIE, Pieter.
Title: De belachchelyke Jonker. Kluchtspel.
Description: Amsterdam, J. Lescailje & Dirk Rank, 1724.Sm.8vo. Old wrappers. With large engraved title-vignette. 40 pp.On July 12, 1683, the play 'The ridiculous nobleman' by Pieter Bernagie (1656-1699) was an instant hit, and was performed dozens of times in the decades that followed. One of the protagonists is Joris, who returns to Amsterdam after a career of over thirty years in Asia. In the penultimate scene it turns out that the VOC veteran, in addition to precious goods and Asian clothes, has also brought two black servants with him: although the story is fictional, this play illustrates how the practice of taking and giving away servants was a common occurrence in the Republic. In fact, several men and women of African origin worked at the court of the Oranges in The Hague, a number of whom were "gifted" to the court as children. - (Blank margin title-page rep., some foxing). - Rare.

Keywords: Asia VOC Dutch East India Company slavery