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VOC
From the second part of the 16th century, Dutch ships sailed to
the Caribbean, particularly to fetch salt, which, as a preservative
for fish, meat and other foodstuffs, was of great importance. The
commercial risks of these undertakings was considerable. In order
to reduce these risks ship owners decided to establish trading
companies and to sail in a flotilla. Several companies, each of
which specialized in a certain area, existed independent from one
another; from an economic point of view these companies were very
vulnerable.
In 1602 the small trading companies merged into the Vereenigde
Oostindische Compagnie (i.e. the United Netherlands East India
Company which was to become an important power until 1799. The VOC
dealt in the typical commodities: spices, coffee, tea, tobacco,
etc. but also more cultural items: silks, Chinese and Japanese
porcelain, furniture and "objects d'art" were transported to Europe
where they found a ready market.
On February 1603 it was decided that all properties of the
company would be fitted with the VOC mark: the facades of
buildings, fortresses and factories as well as ships, flags,
chests, glassware, chinaware, canons, swords, guns, pipes, bales,
publications, book bindings and paper.
We are offering for immediate sale a fine
collection of articles and artifacts on our VOC-catalogue now.
Catalogue of V.OC. related
items.
For sale: An interesting collection of VOC-Cape of
Good Hope landgrants, slave grants,debentures, etc. dating from
1677 onwards.
The documents are in a neat writing and in the
Dutch language, several with on verso a decorative red wax seal
carrying a Dutch East-Indiaman with the monogram in the ensign. In
the upper left corner several with a VOC-revenue embossment of
6-12-24 stuiver or 11/2-2-3 Rich Dollar, incorporating the monogram
of the company. Consisting of a double ring and at the top of the
double ring in the centre is the year whilst the rest of the double
ring is filled in with ornate design. Within the double ring are
the letters "V.O.C." with value outside such letters and above
these is the letter "C" indicating usage at the Cape of Good
Hope.
A few documents falling out of the VOC-period but are embossed with
excellent examples of Cape of Good Hope VOC-revenues (6 stuivers).
VOC-revenues were used at the Cape as late as 1836 despite the
introduction of a British revenue series (also colourless embossed)
in late 1825.
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