Pieter Bernagie (1656-1699).

De belachchelyke jonker. Kluchtspel.

Amsterdam, by de erfgen van J. Lescailje en Dirk Rank, 1724.

8°. 40 pp. With a large engraved title-vignette. Collates: A-B8 C4.

Later blue paper wrappers.

Second edition of a Dutch 17th-century play featuring two Black individuals brought from Africa to Europe as servants.
On July 12, 1683, the play The Ridiculous Nobleman by Pieter Bernagie (1656-1699) became an instant hit. It was first published in 1684 (Amsterdam, A. Magnus) and, despite being performed dozens of times in the following decades, the second edition only appeared in 1724, which we offer here (both editions feature the humorous double “ch” in the title).
The play involves the upper class of Amsterdam and explores themes of (colonial) wealth and its ostentatious display. The protagonist, Joris, returns to Amsterdam after a career of over thirty years in Asia. He uses several Japanese words in his dialogue. In the penultimate scene, it is revealed that the VOC veteran, in addition to bringing precious goods and Asian clothing, has also brought two Black servants to present to a powerful man. Their talents include shooting and dancing. In the play, they perform a dance to “Malaysian” music played by Joris.
“Although the story is fictional, this play illustrates how the practice of taking and giving away servants was a common occurrence in the Republic. In fact, several men and women of African origin worked at the court of the Oranges in The Hague, a number of whom were "gifted" to the court as children.” (Ponte).

Condition: title-page repaired in the blank margin, tear in corner of C2, some foxing, final page stained. Partly untrimmed.

Literature:

Mark Ponte. "Slavernij in Nederland?" in: Onderzoek Staat en Slavernij, edited by Maarten Hell, Stadsarchief Amsterdam, 2023, pp. 218-220.

STCN 295855282.