Pirates and Privateers

Exploring the Early Americas The Jay I. Kislak Collection

Pre-Contact America | Explorations and Encounters | Aftermath of the Encounter

Languages and Religion | Competition for Empire | Documenting New Knowledge

During the centuries of Spanish exploration and colonization, “treasure fleets” made regular trips to the Americas to deliver merchandise and collect treasures and precious metals. As these cargos increased in size and value, so did the risk of capture and theft. Foreign navies, privateers (commissioned agents sent out against the enemies of states), and pirates threatened, attacked, and plundered the ships of the treasure fleets.

“Descripción de las costas yslas y vajos desde Sn. Martin una de las Yslas de Barlovento hasta la Havana” [Description of the coasts, islands, and lowlands from St. Martin… to Havana], 1777.
Manuscript atlas.
Pen-and-ink, watercolor, and pencil.
Jay I. Kislak Collection, Rare Book and Special Collections Division, Library of Congress (120)

Sailing Directions

This manuscript pilot-guide details the hazards of navigation between the island of St. Martin and the ports of Havana, San Juan, and Santo Domingo, through the Windward Passage between Hispaniola and Cuba and on to Veracruz in Mexico. A short section covers the route from Veracruz through the Straits of Florida to Cadiz in Spain. Its depictions of currents, distances, landmarks, coastal elevations, and plans of harbors were used by the Spanish treasure fleets. These pages show profiles of coastal elevations from Maisi along the north coast of Cuba and plans of Baracoa and Nipe bays.

Emanuel Bowen (1673–1767).
A New and Accurate Chart of the West Indies with the Adjacent Coasts of North and South America. Drawn from the best Authorities, assisted by the most approved modern maps & Charts.… By Eman.
Bowen, Geographer to His Majesty. [London: ca. 1720].
Geography and Map Division, Library of Congress (119)

Map Depicting Treasure Fleets

Emanuel Bowen, a London engraver and print and map seller, frequently embellished his maps with nautical and historical commentary. This map of the West Indies includes notes identifying the 1492 Columbus landing site in the New World and routes of the Spanish treasure fleets, the convoys of armed galleons and merchant ships that transported European goods to the Spanish colonies in America. The treasure fleets returned with colonial products, especially gold and silver, which made Spain the richest country in Europe. The convoys sailed annually from the mid-sixteenth century to late-eighteenth century.

Items from a Spanish Treasure Ship

During the centuries of Spanish exploration and colonization, treasure fleets made regular trips to the Americas to deliver merchandise and collect treasures and precious metals. In late summer merchant ships would join their protectors, the war galleons, in Havana to form the treasure fleet for the return to Spain. Often, however, ships were scattered because of bad weather, poor seamanship, or piracy. In early September 1622, Nuestra Señora de Atocha, a galleon carrying tons of Spanish treasure, was wrecked on the Florida coral reefs near the Dry Tortugas, leaving only five survivors. These items were recovered from the site of the wreck.

The Items are: a Silver fork, a Spoon, a Plate, and Gold bullion.

Items from the Nuestra Señora de Atocha wreck, 1622. Jay I. Kislak Collection, Rare Book and Special Collections Division, Library of Congress (118a–118d) Enlarge Add to my collection Send a postcard	Items from the Nuestra Señora de Atocha wreck, 1622. Jay I. Kislak Collection, Rare Book and Special Collections Division, Library of Congress (118a–118d) Enlarge
Items from the Nuestra Señora de Atocha wreck, 1622. Jay I. Kislak Collection, Rare Book and Special Collections Division, Library of Congress (118a–118d) Enlarge	Items from the Nuestra Señora de Atocha wreck, 1622. Jay I. Kislak Collection, Rare Book and Special Collections Division, Library of Congress (118a–118d) Enlarge

The Florida Pirate, or, An account of a cruise on the schooner Esparanza.
New York: [William Borradaile], 1823.
Jay I. Kislak Collection, Rare Book and Special Collections Division, Library of Congress (125)

Florida Pirate

Decades before the Civil War, both slavery and piracy became important subjects in the United States and England. In a little more than a decade, and at a time when few texts were reprinted in multiple editions, this fictional account of an escaped slave turned pirate was released in nine editions on both sides of the Atlantic.

James II, King of England, Scotland, and Ireland (1633–1701).
By the King, A Proclamation for the More Effectual Reducing and Suppressing of Pirates and Privateers in America.
London: Charles Bill, Henry Hills, and Thomas Newcomb, [1688].
Double-leaf broadside.
Jay I. Kislak Collection, Rare Book and Special Collections Division, Library of Congress (123)

British Attempt to Suppress Pirates

Attacks by pirates and privateers were a major problem in the Americas between the sixteenth and eighteenth centuries. Privateers were licensed by a government to raid the ships of declared enemies and shared their gains with the licensor. Pirates were not loyal to any country and attacked indiscriminately for their own gain. Governments with American colonies attempted to suppress privateering and piracy, as in this broadside issued by King James II (reigned 1685–1688).

A.O. [Alexandre Olivier] Exquemelin.
De Americaensche Zee-Roovers [The Buccaneers of America].
Amsterdam: Jan ten Hoorn, Boeckverkoper, 1678.
Jay I. Kislak Collection, Rare Book and Special Collections Division, Library of Congress (121)

Buccaneers of America

This is the first edition, in Dutch, of one of the most important books about pirates ever written. Alexandre Exquemelin, a native of Harfleur, went to the Caribbean in 1666 with the French West Indies Company. He served as surgeon for nearly ten years with various buccaneers and gives an eyewitness account of the adventures of Henry Morgan, François Lolonois, Pierre le Grand, and Bartholomew Portugues. Exquemelin’s vivid writing style narrates a story with color, drama, vitality, and authenticity. His descriptions are filled with vivid scenes of violence in exotic locations, and this edition is enhanced with full-page engravings of the buccaneers and their exploits.

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