Pratica della mercatura

The Florentine merchant Francesco Balducci Pegolotti compiled his Libro di divisamenti di paesi e di misuri di mercatanzie e daltre cose bisognevoli di sapere a mercatanti between 1335 and 1343, probably in 1339-1340. The work is commonly known as the Pratica della mercatura, the name given to it when it was first printed, by Gian-Francesco Pagnini in 1766. The 1936 edition by Allan Evans is now standard: it includes important glossaries of commodities, place names, coins and money, etc.

Outline of contents

Glossary

Glossary of terms then in use for all kinds of taxes or payments on merchandise as well as for every kind of place where goods might be bought or sold in cities (Evans, pp. 14-19). Languages and dialects listed as necessary include

• • Arabic ("Saracen", "Barbary")
  • Armenian
  • English
  • Flemish (and "Brabantine")
  • French (and the French of Outremer: "Cypriot", "Syrian")
  • Friulian
  • Genoese
  • Greek (and "Trapezuntine")
  • Persian
  • Provençal
  • Sardinian
  • Sicilian and Apulian
  • Spanish
  • Tartar
  • Tuscan
  • Venetian

Routes and trading cities

Listing of the principal routes and trading cities frequented by Italian merchants; the imports and exports of various important commercial regions; the business customs prevalent in each of those regions; and the comparative value of the leading moneys, weights and measures.

• Includes the following routes and surveys:
  • The journey to Cathay (Evans, pp. 21-23), from Azov via Astrakhan, Khiva, Otrar and Kulja to Beijing (in the text these names appear as Tana, Gittarchan, Organci, Ottrarre, Armalecco, Canbalecco). The merchant is advised that he will be considered more respectable if he takes a woman with him on this journey, but she must be fluent in the Cuman language.
  • Coast of the Mare Maggiore
  • Stages from Ayas via Sivas, Erzingan and Erzerum to Tabriz in Persia (in the text these names appear as Laiazo, Salvastro, Arzinga, Arzerone, Torissi)
  • England and Scotland as sources of wool, listing many monasteries including Newbattle, Balmerino, Cupar, Dunfermline, Dundrennan, Glenluce, Coldingham, Kelso, Newminster near Morpeth, Furness, Fountains, Kirkstall, Kirstead, Swineshead, Sawley and Calder.

• Includes main headings for the following trading places. Many others are listed incidentally. Under each heading there are lists of the main commodities with details of weights and measures, laws and customs of trade, pricing, etc.
  • Tana nel Mare Maggiore
  • Caffa
  • Torisi di Persia
  • Trabisonda
  • Gostantinopoli e Pera
  • Altoluogo di Turchia (Ayasoluk)
  • Setalia di Turchia
  • Laiazo d'Erminia
  • Acri di Soria
  • Allessandria
  • Damietta
  • Famagosta di Cipri
  • Rodi
  • Candia di Creti
  • Cicilia, including Messina, Palermo
  • Chiarenza
  • Stiva (Ištip)
  • Nigroponte
  • Sardigna
  • Maiolica
  • Tunisi di Barberia
  • Tripoli di Barberia
  • Gierbi di Barberia
  • Vinegia
  • Frioli
  • Ancona
  • Puglia
  • Salerno
  • Napoli di Principato
  • Firenze
  • Pisa
  • Gienova
  • Nimissi e Monpolieri
  • Vignone
  • Aguamorta
  • Evizia
  • Borgogna
  • The fairs of Campagna
  • Parigi
  • Fiandra
  • Bruggia di Fiandra
  • Brabante
  • Anguersa
  • Londra d'Inghilterra
  • Roccella di Guascogna
  • Sobilia di Spagna
  • Reame di Morrocco di Spagna, including Niffe, Salle and Arzilla

Lists and tables

• Lengths of cloth (Evans pp. 277-286)
• Fineness of gold and silver coin (Evans pp. 287-292)
• Spices and their packing (Evans pp. 293-300, 307-319)
• Compound interest tables
• Valuation of pearls and precious stones
• Buying and selling grain
• Shipping
• Calendar tables
• Fineness of gold and silver (Evans pp. 331-360)
• Types and qualities of spices and other trade goods (Evans pp. 360-383)

References

• Gian-Francesco Pagnini, Della Decima. 4 vols. Lisbon, Lucca, 1765-1766.
• Francesco Balducci Pegolotti, La pratica della mercatura ed. Allan Evans. Cambridge, Mass.: Mediaeval Academy of America, 1936.