Le code noir, ou recueil des reglemens rendus jusqu'a present, Concernant le gouvernement, l'administration de la justice, la police, la discipline & le commerce des negres dans les colonies francoises. Et les conseils & compagnies etablis a ce sujet.

[Slavery]

Published by A Paris, chez Prault 1767

.12mo. [VIII],446 (i.e. 468, pagination 207-216 and 375-386 used twice) p. Contemp. calf, gilt back with label, marbled endpapers, red edges. Fine copy. The Black code' collects all legal texts concerning slavery in the French colonies, from the first decree of King Louis XIV in 1685 up to and including the ordinance of 1762. The edict of 1685 contained only 14 pages and subsequent editions were expanded with regulations regarding the black population and the slave trade in the French colonies in America and Africa, Saint-Domingue (Haiti), Senegal, Cape Verde, Guinea, Martinique, Guadeloupe, Louisiana, Canada. The title Code noir' was used for the first time in the Royal Edict of March 1724, which consisted of 55 articles regarding the colony of Louisiana. Since then it was used for the whole collection.The code regulated slavery, established rules for the treatment of the enslaved population, enforced the catholic religion, protected the interests of slaveowners, and created a legal framework for racial hierarchy. It has served as a model for other colonial powers. *Sabin lists editions of 1718, 1727, 1742, 1743, 1752, and the present one (14125). Kress has an edition of 1743 only. Goldsmiths' has an edition of 1765 only. Seller Inventory # 12381

Bibliographic Details

Title: Le code noir, ou recueil des reglemens ...
Publisher: A Paris, chez Prault 1767
Binding: Hardcover