First edition of an important treatise on Dutch maritime and colonial trade.
Divided into two 'books', the first part outlines the organizational structure of the Dutch maritime and colonial trade, while the second is devoted to the trading companies, including the VOC, the WIC, and the whaling companies.
The two parts include valuable information on the history of the VOC and the WIC, Brazil, New York, Nova Zembla, Africa, whaling, pirates, maritime discipline and punishment, etc. The two 'books' are followed by 42 official publications by the Dutch government regulating the trade.
The author, Johan Tjassens, was burgomaster of Groningen, member of the States General and the Amsterdam Admiralty. His Zee-politie was apparently the only work he published. A second edition (in two issues) appeared in 1669/1670.
"The chapters XIV-XXX of this valuable book contain the history of the West-India-Company, with reprints of the original documents (Octroyen, pp. 222-258). This first edition is scarce" (Muller).
This copy comes from the library of Feije van Scheltema (?-1666), a Frisian 'grietman' (administrator) and member of the States of Friesland.
The Dutch in Brazil, New York, Nova Zembla, and Africa
Johan Tjassens.
Zee-Politie der Vereenichde Nederlanden Verthoont in een Tafel, Ende twee kleyne Boecken, beschreven door Johan Tjasssens, waer achter ghevoecht zijn eenighe saecken tot onderrechtinge en kennisse tot de Politie dienende.
The Hague, Johan Veely, 1652.