(JUDAICA) Lucena James Itemized receipt issued to Aaron Lope

Sale 2391 - Lot 189

Price Realized: $ 688

?Final Price Realized includes Buyer’s Premium added to Hammer Price

Estimate: $ 400 - $ 600

(JUDAICA.) Lucena, James. Itemized receipt issued to Aaron Lopez for payment of a substantial mercantile account. Manuscript Document Signed, 7 1/2 x 14 3/4 inches, docketed in the hand of Aaron Lopez, "James Lucena account settled, May 14th 1764"; folds, moderate edge wear, closed tear in upper corner. Newport, RI, 29 May 1764

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Additional Details

Aaron Lopez (1731–1782) of Newport, RI was one of the most successful merchants in colonial America, and a leading member of Newport's thriving Jewish community. He remains a controversial figure because of his substantial involvement in the slave trade. This account was drawn up in the early part of Lopez's career by cousin and fellow merchant James Lucena (1720-1795) of Newport and Savannah, GA. The account provides the details of a substantial debt Lopez owed to Lucena dating back to 1760, including a large purchase of spermaceti ("head matter") for use in Lopez's candle factory, 5059 feet of boards for resale, 6 casks of linseed oil, and three parcels of Havana sugar. Lucena also charged Lopez £360 for "an error in his carrying out £77 lawfull mo., it being Philad'a currency." On 14 May 1764, Lopez settled for most of this account, carrying forward £75 for a future account, and Lucena signed this receipt for Lopez's records. No earlier Lopez documents have been traced on the auction market.