Cawston, G.; Keane, A.H. - THE EARLY CHARTERED COMPANIES (A.D. 1296-1858) (1896)

Sought-after first edition copy of this stunning work from 1896 about all early British chartered companies. Also contains the Charter of Incorporation of The British South African Company from 1889 (signed by Lord Muir Mackenzie).

This scarce work is composed of the following chapters:

1) The Merchants of the Staple (the first English corporate body which received a charter from the Crown for purely trading purposes). Also contains the Charter of Incorporation of The British South African Company from 1889 (signed by Lord Muir Mackenzie);

2) The Fraternity (Brotherhood) of St. Thomas a Becket (later called The Company of the Merchant Adventurers of England);

3) The Russia Company;

4) The Eastland Company;

5) The Turkey (Levant) Company;

6) The East India Company (1600-1702);

7) The East India Company - continued (1702-1858);

8) The Hudson Bay Company;

9) The Virginia and New England Companies and Provincial Charters (The Virginia Company, The London Company, The Plymouth Company, The Massachusetts Bay Company, The Connecticut and Rhode Island Company, The Carolina Charters, The Georgia Charters);

10) Guinea (Royal African) and minor chartered companies (The First Guinea Company, The Second Guinea Company, The Third Guinea Company, The Fourth Guinea (African) Company, The Marocco or Barbary Company, The Canary Company, The Guiana Company, The Bermuda or Somers Isles Company, The China or Cathay Company);

11) Appendix I. - The names of noblemen and persons of honour who were admitted in Hamburg to the freedom of the Fellowship of the Merchant Adventurers of England;

12) Appendix II. - Charter texts/Specimens of a Early Tudor Charter (Henry VII.), Late Tudor Charter (Elizabeth), Stuart Charter (Charles II.), Revoked Charter, Restored Charter and of a Petition;

13) Appendix III. - Charter of Incorporation of The British South African Company.

This is an extremely rare copy of this precious work, hard to find even in National and University Libraries - and the only copy selling on internet!

London & New York, Edward Arnold, 1896; First edition; Size of the book: 21 x 14,5 cm; Hardcover; Text in English; Collation complete - Coat of Arms of The Merchant Adventurers of England (1296), Title page, [xi], 329 pages, plus 32 pages of publisher's ads at rear dated June 1896; Ex-library copy, withdrawn from an university library. The binding actually feels strong, firm and tight and isn’t really splitting anywhere. Ex-library label to the bottom of the spine. Spine and boards bumped to the extremities, corners bumped and little chipped, minor rubbing. Hinges little weak, with incipient surface cracking, but still strong and whole. Rear free endpaper missing. Ex-library with a few stamps/withdrawn numbers to the text block. Internally in very good condition, very bright and clear, no marks or foxing throughout, only little yellowing. The page block has a very slight lean. Minimal traces of wear on the edges of the paperback, the fore edge is deckled and the top edge is darkened. A sound copy.