[Cuba]. [Chinese Labor]

[Indenture for a Chinese Worker, Signed in Chinese, Together with the Worker's Cedula]

Havana: 1861, 1863. Two partially printed broadsheets, completed in manuscript, 13 x 9 inches. Old folds, wear at edges; some light worming, slightly affecting text. Lightly soiled. Good. Item #6222

A pair of documents recording the indenture of a Chinese national in Havana. The present documents contract the "Asiatico Francisco" as a cook to Don Jose Antonio Battle y Olle; the contract is dated June 28, 1861, and is signed by "Francisco" in Chinese characters for a term of two years. At the end it is noted in manuscript that the Asiatico Francisco has completed the two years of his contract. The cedula is dated 1863 and indicates that Francisco is 33 years of age and now indentured for eight years as a "cocinero." An interesting pair of documents showing the continuing servitude of imported Chinese laborers, particularly attractive for being signed in Chinese characters.

Price: $1,500.00