Földvári Books

Collection of 14 Unrecorded Guadeloupean Legal Briefs; 1803–1805

[Guadeloupe; Legal Briefs] Fourteen Unrecorded Guadeloupe Imprints, a Unique Collection of Legal Briefs.

Basse-Terre: Imprimerie de la République; Imprimerie du Gouvernement; Cabre, 1803–1805. First editions. In contemporary leather. Spine gilt, with red title vignette (“Mémoire”). Tinted edges. Ownership inscription on title page: “Ex libris Clementis Goyneau”. Unrelated notes and counts in ink on front and rear free endpapers by a contemporary hand. Binding rubbed, especially at the extremities, with some loss to the leather. Front panel damaged at the right edge. Endpapers are tanned at the edges. Condition reports to each title below. Overall in very good, near fine condition.

A collection of fourteen early and unrecorded imprints of legal briefs dated and printed between 1803 and 1805 in Basse-Terre, Guadeloupe.

Each of the fourteen legal briefs is signed by Bertrand Goyneau, and concerns with civil trials of prominent Guadeloupean families. Four of the cases (1, 2, 7, 8) are related to the estate of General Dugommier (Jacques François Coquille; 1738–1794), the illustrious Guadeloupean French military leader, who participated in the defense of Guadeloupe in 1759 during the British invasion, fought in Martinique in the Seven Years’ War, and eventually died in the Campaign in the Pyrenees as a commander in the Italian Army. Apart from those, the remainders are otherwise vaguely documented or long forgotten inheritance and divorce cases of the planter aristocracy of Basse-Terre, Pointe-à-Pitré, Trois-Rivier, Lamentin, Havre, and Capesterre. These cases offer a glimpse into the wealth and sometimes the private lives of Guadeloupe’s early 19th-century distinguished families such as the Galbert, Marre de Bois-chéry, Duhamel, Ferret, Souffrain, Noirtin, Caillou, Caussade, Bovis, Ithier, Thomas, Brindeau, Lamoriniere, Bory, Pons-Martin, Lombard, Neau, Bosredont, Bellegarde, Giraud-Charbonière Dorzon and Ambert families.

The collection belonged to the Goyneau family, each case is signed by “B. Goyneau avoue”, apparently Bertrand Goyneau (died around 1830) who served as “avoué près des tribunaux de la colonie”, a jurist charged with performing the preparation of cases in front of courts. The ownership inscription of Bertrand’s son, Clémentis (Anne Marie Félicité Damien Clément) Goyneau could be found on the front pastedown.

The briefs were printed in Basse-Terre, the capital city of Guadeloupe, the majority by the official presses of the colony: Imprimerie de la République (1, 2) and Imprimerie du Gouvernement (3–6, 9, 11, 12, 14), these are adorned with the official headpieces of the colony on their first pages. Three (probably four) further prints were produced by Jean-François Cabre (7, 8?, 10, 13), one of the pioneering Guadeloupean private printers. All papers were published between 1803 and 1805, the dawn of a relatively calm time in the history of the island after the French restored their power and the pre-revolutionary government.

Guadeloupe was under French rules until the British invasion in 1759, as part of the Seven Years' War. The island was returned to French control after the Treaty of Paris in 1763 and gained prosperity through the trade of colonial goods, mainly sugar, coffee, and cocoa. The French revolution brought chaos to the colony, and taking advantage of the situation, Britain invaded Guadeloupe again in 1794. The island was soon retaken by French troops led by Victor Hugues, who abolished slavery. In 1802 when the French Empire reinstated the pre-revolutionary government and slavery, a short-lived and unsuccessful slave rebellion broke out. Guadeloupe was occupied again by the British in 1810 and handed over to Sweden in 1813 who ceded it to France the following year. Slavery was eventually abolished in 1848.

Printing in Guadeloupe dates back to the second half of the 18th century, the first printer, Jean Benard set up his shop in 1765. Due to the chaotic political situations, and the frequency of natural disasters and fires, only a very few of the early Guadeloupean imprints survived until today. Those we know about are mainly administrative and official documents, newspapers, some almanacs, and a small number of other items. During our research, we couldn’t find any of the present pamphlets or other imprints of the same genre and era neither in libraries nor in trade catalogs.

1. [Caption title:] Mémoire pour La Veuve du Général Dugommier, appelante de jugement rendu par le Tribunal de première instance de l'arrondissement de la Basse-Terre, le vingt-huit germinal an onze [April 18, 1803]; Contre Le Citoyen Gaspard Galbert, Membre du Tribunal d’ appel de la Guadeloupe et Habitant aux Trois-Rivières, tant au nom et comme exécuteur testamentaire de Dame Bottée, que comme mari et maître des actions mobiliaires de son épouse, demoiselle Marre-Boischeri, intimé. A la Basse-Terre, île Guadeloupe: de l’imprimerie de la République, [no date, but 1803]. [Imprint from p. 34] 40 p. First edition. Signed by Veuve Dugommier and B. Goyneau avoué. Appended with four extracts from the notary, Ezemard’s related reports (from 1780 and 1784), and the copy of a bill of exchange between Galbert and Dugommier (pp. 35–40). Woodcut headpiece on the first page. The first leaf is torn at the outer edge, with some loss of a few letters, not affecting the legibility. The second and third leaves are partly loose, thus creased and somewhat tanned at the outer edges. Note in ink at lower margin of p. 13 and minor corrections throughout by a contemporary hand.

2. [Caption title:] Précis Pour Le Veuve de Général Dugommier, Contre Le Citoyen Gaspard Galbert, Habitant. A la Basse-Terre, île Guadeloupe: de l’imprimerie de la République, [no date, ca. 1803]. [Imprint from the last page.] 16 p. First edition. Signed by Veuve Dugommier and B. Goyneau avoué. Woodcut headpiece on the first page. Four wormholes throughout, with no effect on legibility.

3. [Caption title:] Mémoire pour Dame Charlotte Agnès Ferret, épouse du sieur Charles Duhamel, demeurant aux Trois-Rivières, et le sieur Charles Duhamel son mari pour l’autoriser, ladite dame Agnès Ferret habile à se dire héritière de dame Marie-Perrine Victorine Romain, sa mère, veuve en premières noces de Jean Baptiste Ferret, décédée épouse divorcée de Pierre Varlet; Demoiselle Marie Nicole, fille majeure, demeurante à la Pointe-à-Pitre, habile à se dire héritière de feue dame veuve Ferret sa grande-mère, par représentation de Perrine Romain Ferret sa mère; Le sieur Alexandre Nicole, négociant, demeurant à la Pointe-à-Pitré, au nom et comme tuteur de ses enfans mineurs, Alexandre-Barthélemy et Marie-Anne Nicole, aussi habiles à se dire héritiers de dame veuve Ferret, par représentation de leur mère Perrine Romain Ferret. Lesdits sieur et dame Duhamel, le sieur Nicole et demoiselle Nicole, appelans du jugement rendu par le Tribunal de première instance de la Basse-Terre le 12 floréal an 12 [May 2, 1804]. Contre Les sieurs Nicole [Nicolas] et Pierre Ferret, habitans, demeurans près la Basse-Terre; Dame Thérèse-Germain[e] Ferret, épouse du sieur Souefrain[!]; et le sieur Souffrain, au nom et comme exécuteur testamentaire de dame veuve Ferret, et encore comme bienveillant de ses enfans mineurs, tous intimes sur ledit appel. A la Basse-Terre, île Guadeloupe: de l’imprimerie du Gouvernement, [no date, but 1804]. [Imprint from the last page.] 51 [1] p. First edition. Signed by Nicolle[!] Duhamel, M. Picou de Lisle, Rapporteur, and B. Goyneau avoué. Woodcut headpiece on the first page. Minor corrections in ink throughout by a contemporary hand. The last three gatherings are tanned due to aging.

4. [Caption title:] Replique pour Les sieurs Duhamel, Nicole et Consorts, au mémoire imprimé Pour les sieurs Souffrain et Ferret. A la Basse-Terre, île Guadeloupe: de l’imprimerie du Gouvernement, [no date, but ca. 1804]. [Imprint from the last page.] 22 [2] p. First edition. Signed by Nicole Duhamel, M. Picou de Lisle, Rapporteur, and B. Goyneau avoué. Woodcut headpiece on the first page. Paper tanned. Stains on p. 11 due to the quality of the paper.

5. [Caption title:] Mémoire pour Le sieur Noirtin, Notaire, et demoiselle Sophie Caillou, son épouse, demeurans à la Pointe-à-Pitre; Les sieurs Caillou aîné, Chéry Caillou et Théodore Caillou, demeurans au Lamentin; Le sieur Caussade, Avoué à la Pointe-à-Pitre, et demoiselle Marie-Julie Caillou, son épouse; Tous appelans de Jugement rendu à la Pointe-à-Pitre de 1.er pluviose an 13 [January 21, 1805], et intimés. Contre Le sieur Bovis père, Membre de la Cour d’Appel de la Guadeloupe, Habitant au Lamentin, aussi appelant et intimé. A la Basse-Terre, île Guadeloupe: de l’imprimerie du Gouvernement, [no date, but 1805]. [Imprint from the last page.] 84 [i.e. 48] p. First edition. Signed by Monsieur Petit, Commissaire rapporteur, and B. Goyneau avoué. Woodcut headpiece on the first page. Occasional light stains.

6. [Caption title:] Replique, Des héritiers Caillou au Mémoire imprimé de M. Bovis, Membre de la Cour d’Appel. A la Basse-Terre-Guadeloupe: de l’imprimerie du Gouvernement, [no date, ca. 1805]. [Imprint from the last page.] 12 p. First edition. Signed by Monsieur Petit, Commissaire rapporteur, and B. Goyneau avoué. Woodcut he the headpiece on the first page. Brown stain on first and last leaves.

7. [Caption title:] Mémoire pour la Veuve et les Enfans du Général Dugommier, Intimés; Contre la dame veuve Ithier, appelante du Jugement rendu au Tribunal de Première instance de la Basse-Terre, le 28 Pluviose an 12 [February 18, 1804]. Et le Curateur aux Successions vacantes, se disant en cette qualité chargé de celle de feu Brindeau. A la Basse-Terre-Guadeloupe: Chez Cabre, imprimeur-Libraire, [no date, 1804]. [Imprint from p. 48.] 50 [2 (last blank)] p. First edition. Signed (on p. 48) by Veuve Dugommier, Dugommier Dumoutier, Henrys[!], fondé de pouvoirs de Jacques-François Dugommier, Le citoyen Petit, juge, rapporteur, and B. Goyneau avoué. A large woodcut headpiece on the first page. Minor corrections in ink throughout by a contemporary hand. Pp. 45–6 slightly overtrimmed at upper margin, page numbers shaved.

8. [Caption title:] Précis pour Les Héritiers bénéficiaires du général Dugomier[!], appelans de Jugement rendu par le Tribunal de la Basse-Terre, le 11 brumaire an 14 [November 2, 1805], Contre La dame veuve Thomas, héritière de feu Brindeau, intimée. [N. p. but Basse Terre]: [S. n. / Cabre?], [no date, but 1805]. 14 [6 (last leaf blank)] p. First edition. Signed (on p. 14) by B. Goyneau avoué and Monsieur Colin Laroncière, commissaire rapporteur. A brown stain at the gutter throughout, not affecting the text, and wormholes on two leaves (pp. 9–12). Some pages are tanned.

9. [Caption title:] Mémoire pour La dame Lamoriniere, veuve Bory, demeurante au Havre, au nom et comme tutrice de son fils, Louis-Jean-Jacques Bory, habile à se porter héritier de feu Jean-Nicolas Bory, son père, représentée en cette Colonie par le sieur Pons-Martin, Avoué, substitué aux pouvoirs du sieur Lamoriniere; subrogé tuteur du mineur Bory, appelante de jugement rendu au Tribunal de Pointe-à-Pitre ce 24 Prairial an douze [June 13, 1804]. Contre Le sieur Lombard, Négociant, demeurant à la Pointe-à-Pitre, intimé. A la Basse-Terre, île Guadeloupe: de l’imprimerie du Gouvernement, [no date, but 1804]. [Imprint from the last page.] 44 p. First edition. Signed (on p. 35) by M. Lavielle Duberceau, rapporteur, and B. Goyneau avoué. Woodcut headpiece on the first page. Appended with copies of a bill of exchange, “Consultation”, and “Parère”. Some pages are overtrimmed at the upper edge, touching the page numbers. Sporadic brown stains. A small wormhole at the lower inner margin, occasionally in the text block, not affecting the legibility.

10. [Caption title:] Réplique pour la dame veuve Bory, tutrice de son fils; Contre le sieur Lombard. A la Basse-Terre: Chez Cabre, imprimeur-libraire, [no date, but ca. 1804]. [Imprint from last page.] 20 p. First edition. Signed by Pons Martin, avoué, fondé de pouvoirs de la dame veuve Bory, Monsieur Lavielle Duberceau, commissaire rapporteur, and B. Goyneau avoué. Typographic headpiece on the first page.

11. [Caption title:] Mémoire pour La demoiselle Joséphine Neau, épouse du sieur Bosredont, appelante du Jugement rendu par le Tribunal de première instance de la Basse-Terre le 13 septembre dernier, Contre Le sieur Louis Bosredont, ci-devant Officier d'artillerie de ligne, demeurant à la Basse-Terre, intimé sur ledit appel. A la Basse-Terre-Guadeloupe: de l’imprimerie du Gouvernement, [no date, but 1805?]. [Imprint from p. 53.] 53 [1 (blank)] p. First edition. Signed by J.ne Neau Bosredont, B. Goyneau, avocat, and Monsieur A. X. Gondrecourt, commissaire rapporteur. Woodcut headpiece on the first page. Some pages are slightly overtrimmed at the upper edge, touching the page numbers.

12. [Caption title:] Replique pour La demoiselle Joséphine Neau, épouse du sieur Bosredont, contre Le sieur Bosredont, son mari. A la Basse-Terre-Guadeloupe: de l’Imprimerie du Gouvernement, [no date, but 1805?]. [Imprint from page 23] 23 [1 (blank)] p. First edition. Signed by J.ne Neau Bosredont, B. Goyneau, advocat, and Monsieur A. X. Gondrecourt, commissaire rapporteur. Woodcut headpiece on the first page. Minor corrections in ink throughout by a contemporary hand. Light stains throughout. Water stains, and tiny holes due to the quality of the paper, on the first and last leaves.

13. [Caption title:] Mémoire pour M. Bellegarde, habitant à la Capesterre , & la Dame son épouse, appelants de jugement rendu par M. le Juge de la Basse-Terre, le 10 thermidor an 12 [July 29, 1804]. Contre M. Ambert, Général de Division, & la Dame son épouse; Et M. & Dame Brivazac Beaumont & les Heritiers de la Dame Faudoas, Intimés. A la Basse-Terre: Chez Cabre, imprimeur-libraire, [no date, but 1804]. [Imprint from p. 34.] 34 [2 (blank)] p. First edition. Signed by Laforgue Bellegarde, Monsieur Lavielle Duberceau, commissaire rapporteur, and B. Goyneau avoué. Typographic headpiece on the first page. Minor corrections in ink throughout, and a 4-line note in ink at the end of the text by a contemporary hand. A hole on the last, blank leaf due to the quality of the paper.

14. [Caption title:] Mémoire pour M. Giraud-Charbonière Dorzon, Habitant, demeurant à la Capesterre, Contre Monsieur Ambert, Général de division, Lieutenant de Monsieur le Capitaine-Général de la Guadeloupe, et Commandant les Troupes, Habitant propriétaire au Quartier de la Capesterre. A la Basse-Terre, île Guadeloupe: de l’imprimerie du Gouvernement, [no date, but ca. 1804]. [Imprint from p. 37.] 37 [3 (last blank)] p. First edition. Signed (on p. 37) by Giraud-Charbonière, B. Goyneau, avocat, Monsieur Butel-Montgai, Juge au Tribunal de première instance. Woodcut headpiece on the first page. Paper tanned. Most pages are overtrimmed at the upper edge thus headpiece and page numbers are shaved.

Price: €25,000.00