Zuwissen: demnach die Erfahrung es bezeuget... (To know: thus experience attests...)
Gdansk, Poland: City Council Danzig, 1745. Original document. Loose leaf. Octavo. 4pp. Original illustrated handmade paper with black lettering. Historiated initial.
Ordinance made public in Gdansk (Danzig), a coastal city and the capital and largest city in Pomerania, It is not commonly known that in the era of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth Jews were not allowed to live permanently or conduct business activities. They were allowed to stay temporarily with the purchase of a 'Safe conduct.' with the exception of the Dominican Fair. The law as outlined in the following paragraph was regularly renewed until 1773 when Gdansk was incorporated to Prussia. A summary translation of essential parts of the ordinance:
'Ordinance regulating Jews who are staying in the city of Danzig longer than permitted to broker business transactions, as well as conduct illicit business that infringes on various ordinances, and thereby inflict damages on the citizens of Danzig. Therefore it has become necessary to ban the Jews who have overstayed their permit to stay in the city and prohibit Jews who enter the city to stay longer than permitted. Furthermore that Jews are forbidden to conduct business transactions in the city or use others to conduct their business transactions. In case of violations of this ordinance the names of the violators shall be made public and they will be ordered to pay fines or, in case they can't pay those, be incarcerated accordingly. This applies also for Jews who conduct business under a false name. Public inns and hostels who harbor such Jews and their goods longer than those are permitted to stay without reporting them to the authorities will be fined in the amount of fifty Reichsthaler. Citizens who indicate such offenses shall be awarded a fourth of the fine. So ordered at the City Hall on April 9, 1745. Signed Mayor and City Council of Danzig.'
Text in German, Gothic script. Some light splashing of ink in lower left and right margin of front cover. Protected in modern mylar. Very good condition. Item #51727
Price: $950.00