(SLAVERY AND ABOLITION CUBA) A Royal Decree denouncing and

Sale 2308 - Lot 73

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NO AMALGAMATION TOLERATED (SLAVERY AND ABOLITION--CUBA.) A Royal Decree, denouncing and nullifying the marriage of Joseph Betancourt, a member of one of the principal families of Cuba, with Catalina Truxillo, "parda notoria," a well known mulatta. Single 4to sheet, folded to form four pages, printed on all sides; considerable worming, but perfectly legible. Havana, 1806

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This decree served two purposes. One, to annul the marriage of Joseph Betancourt and his concubine, Catalina Truxillo, but more significantly: to reinforce the fact the Crown would not tolerate marriages between whites and blacks, or whites and mulattoes or of any cast, "free or slave," and for that matter, Chinese too. In other words, no mixing of Spanish blood period. This decree cites several other instances where prominent members of Spanish society had tried to marry their "concubines," and explains the ramifications of such unions. While cohabiting, as owner and slave or master and servant was tacitly acceptable behavior, the idea of marriage with all of the legal ramifications it brought with it, was definitely frowned on by the Crown.