LAUSSAT, PRÉFET COLONIAL, COMMISSAIRE DU GOUVERNEMENT FRANÇAIS, CONSIDÉRANT QU'APRÈS AVOIR ASSURÉ LA TRANQUILLITÉ & LA SÛRETÉ DANS LES DIVERS POSTES DE LA BASSE- LOUISIANE...[caption title]

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Book desription: [New Orleans. 1803].. Broadside, 14 1/4 x 9 inches, with woodcut headpiece of symbolic figure with printed inscription: "Préfecture Coloniale." Minor old folds, light wear and some tanning at edges. Moderate dampstain affecting portions of eight lines of text. Contemporary manuscript inscriptions in ink above text. A good copy. In a cloth clamshell case, leather label. An exceedingly rare New Orleans broadside printed during the brief return of France's control of Louisiana between the Spanish and American periods of ownership. The decree was promulgated on Dec. 6, 1803 and authorized by Colonial Prefect Laussat and Commission Secretary Daugerot. "Having issued a previous decree maintaining office and confirming the authority and powers of various post commanders of lower Louisiana, Laussat now gives orders making the same provisions for civil functionaries in the provinces along the banks of the Mississippi River" - Hummel. Spain signed a treaty of cession on March 21, 1801, but this was not announced to the inhabitants of the colony until March 27, 1803. The actual transfer of Louisiana back to France occurred on Nov. 30 of that year, and three weeks later the territory became a part of the United States. Pierre Clément de Laussat, Colonial Prefect, arrived in New Orleans from Paris to take formal possession of Louisiana, and as had already been arranged, transfer title to the U.S. "Laussat's first official announcement after his arrival in New Orleans was followed by five other proclamations or edicts in broadside form which have been seen and recorded in the course of this study, and there were undoubtedly still others which have not come to light. The purpose of these broadsides was to establish and carry on the machinery of government and to insure the maintenance of law and order after the automatic termination of the authority of the Spanish magistrates and office holders. Most of these bear at the top an interesting woodcut of the typical female figure symbolical of France, and inscribed 'Préfecture Coloniale.' This woodblock was undoubtedly brought by the commission from Paris" - McMurtrie, NEW ORLEANS. An extremely rare broadside printed during France's brief control of Louisiana in the early 19th century. Jumonville records copies at New Orleans Public Library, Tulane, and Historic New Orleans Collection. JUMONVILLE 85. HUMMEL 796. McMURTRIE (LOUISIANA) 32. McMURTRIE (NEW ORLEANS) p.64. SHAW & SHOEMAKER 4554.

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