Where can I find data on the value of goods being shipped between the Americas and Europe in the early colonial period (1600 - 1700)?

by MrBuddles

I'm trying to find data on what were the types and relative value of goods being sent between Europe and the Americas in the early colonial period (1600 - 1700)?

I know the basic gist that gold/precious metals and cash crops were major shipments from the Americas, but I'm trying to find the relative values of say Sugar vs Tobacco vs Indigo, etc. Is there anywhere I could something like historical trade data?

Altsamp

Try looking up the Dutch West India Company. The primary sources are in Dutch. The archive is located at the Dutch National Archives (https://www.nationaalarchief.nl/en). These are the indexes (http://www.gahetna.nl/en/collectie/index/nt00223) for the West India company between 1600 and 1700. Maybe you can search for a secondary source discussing these records in english.

But maybe this other book I found can help you locate sources that you want. See the following: Postma, J., & Enthoven, V. (2003). Riches from Atlantic commerce: Dutch transatlantic trade and shipping, 1585-1817. Leiden: Brill. See worldcat link for more info: http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/52749907.