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Translation

Order authorizing a lottery for the disposal of a quantity of bibles, testaments and other books

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Whereas Gijsbert van Imborch has shown by petition that in the year 1652, he brought here for the service of the commonalty a certain quantity of printed books consisting of bibles, testaments and many other pious homilies, and whereas there was little or no demand for the aforesaid books, he requests permission to establish a lottery for these books; whereupon it was duly noted at the session and, after debating it pro and con, it was finally decided to give him permission to do so upon the following conditions, namely, that in the presence of two commissioners from the magistracy of this city the books shall be increased by a small amount above what they cost in Holland, from which profit [      ] [      ] [      ] to pay all [      ] [      ] rules of the lottery [      ] [      ] for commissioners are authorized [      ] the honorable burgomaster Allard Antony [      ] honorable schepen Johannis Nevius. Done at Amsterdam in New Netherland, present the honorable lords high councilors Nicasius de Sille, J. la Montange, the honorable fiscal Cornelis van Tienhoven, Allard Antony and Oloff Stevensen, burgomasters of this city of Amsterdam, ady ut supra. [1]

Notes

Allard Anthony reported to the court of New Amsterdam that the council said the books should be valued at “one hundred over the invoice,” with the poor receiving one third including expenses, and the “surplus” going to Van Imbroch. See RNA, 1:291 (March 1,1655).

References

Translation: Gehring, C., trans./ed., New York Historical Manuscripts: Dutch, Vol. 6, Council Minutes, 1655-1656 (Syracuse: 1995). A complete copy of this publication is available on the New Netherland Institute website.