[France, Conseil d'État]:

$1,000 · Offered by William Reese Company

DE PAR LE ROY. EXTRAIT DES REGISTRES DU CONSEIL D'ESTAT. This broadside is signed in print: "Saint Germain en Lay, 24 Oct. 1679...Colbert." One of the chronic problems faced by France was a shortage of shipping, which put the country at a disadvantage in dealing with the maritime powers of her neighbors, England and the Netherlands. To correct this, Colbert instructs (translated from the French): "In order to encourage his subjects in navigation and maritime commerce, the king decrees that anyone who builds a boat in the ports and harbors of the kingdom of more than 100 tons capacity will receive 100 sols per ton." There are instructions for the broadside to be posted at docks and mercantile exchanges so that no one can claim ignorance.

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