Dutch merchants sent four ships, along with 249 men, to the Orient in 1596. The venture was funded by a group of nine private individuals who pooled a total of 290,000 guilders, a vast sum which was equivalent to the annual wage of nearly 1,000 men. According to Jonathan Israel, “the profits of this first expedition were meager, but the merchants remained undaunted.” Indeed, within the next few years dozens of ships would be dispatched from Amsterdam, which would soon become the European center of maritime trade.
"Upton Tea Imports was founded in 1989 with the objective of providing the North American tea drinker with
the finest teas available. We purchase teas from reputable brokers and estates worldwide, dealing only with
sources who are capable of providing top quality teas. We sell directly to the consumer, thus ensuring the
freshest product and fairest pricing."
Hopkinton, Massachusetts
Online Information Library
Get a free catalog.