1803]. · [New Orleans
by [Louisiana]
[New Orleans, 1803].. Broadside, 14 1/4 x 9 1/4 inches, with woodcut headpiece of symbolic figure with printed inscription: "Préfecture Coloniale." Moderate dampstaining and soiling, occasional foxing, moderate wear at edges. Autograph signatures of Colonial Prefect Laussat and Commission Secretary Daugerot, authorization stamp of the Préfecture Coloniale de la Louisiane, contemporary inscriptions above text. A good copy. In a cloth clamshell case, leather label. An exceedingly rare New Orleans broadside concerning the provisional administration of customs duties, printed during the brief return of France's control of Louisiana between the Spanish and American periods of ownership. The decree creates a French customs system in place of the Spanish authority and appoints "Mr. Garland and citizen Navailles, respectively, as Collector of Customs and Treasurer under the newly installed French regime" (Hummel).
Spain signed a treaty of cession on March 21, 1801, but this was not announced to the inhabitants of the colony until March 27, 1803. The actual transfer of Louisiana back to France occurred on November 30 of that year, and three weeks later the territory became a part of the United States. Pierre Clément de Laussat, Colonial Prefect, arrived in New Orleans from Paris to take formal possession of Louisiana, and as had already been arranged, to transfer title to the U.S. "Laussat's first official announcement after his arrival in New Orleans was followed by five other proclamations or edicts in broadside form which have been seen and recorded in the course of this study, and there were undoubtedly still others which have not come to light. The purpose of these broadsides was to establish and carry on the machinery of government and to insure the maintenance of law and order after the automatic termination of the authority of the Spanish magistrates and office holders. Most of these bear at the top an interesting woodcut of the typical female figure symbolical of France, and inscribed 'Préfecture Coloniale.' This woodblock was undoubtedly brought by the commission from Paris" - McMurtrie, NEW ORLEANS.
Jumonville records copies at New Orleans Public Library and Tulane; OCLC adds a third copy at Yale. JUMONVILLE 68. HUMMEL 780, 788. McMURTRIE (NEW ORLEANS) 52, p.64. McMURTRIE (LOUISIANA) 21. SHAW & SHOEMAKER 4539. OCLC 27803500. (Inventory #: WRCAM36550)
Spain signed a treaty of cession on March 21, 1801, but this was not announced to the inhabitants of the colony until March 27, 1803. The actual transfer of Louisiana back to France occurred on November 30 of that year, and three weeks later the territory became a part of the United States. Pierre Clément de Laussat, Colonial Prefect, arrived in New Orleans from Paris to take formal possession of Louisiana, and as had already been arranged, to transfer title to the U.S. "Laussat's first official announcement after his arrival in New Orleans was followed by five other proclamations or edicts in broadside form which have been seen and recorded in the course of this study, and there were undoubtedly still others which have not come to light. The purpose of these broadsides was to establish and carry on the machinery of government and to insure the maintenance of law and order after the automatic termination of the authority of the Spanish magistrates and office holders. Most of these bear at the top an interesting woodcut of the typical female figure symbolical of France, and inscribed 'Préfecture Coloniale.' This woodblock was undoubtedly brought by the commission from Paris" - McMurtrie, NEW ORLEANS.
Jumonville records copies at New Orleans Public Library and Tulane; OCLC adds a third copy at Yale. JUMONVILLE 68. HUMMEL 780, 788. McMURTRIE (NEW ORLEANS) 52, p.64. McMURTRIE (LOUISIANA) 21. SHAW & SHOEMAKER 4539. OCLC 27803500. (Inventory #: WRCAM36550)