On the activity of Greek merchants in Transylvania, Wallachia and Moldavia during the Seventeenth and Eighteenth centuries: the trade in paper, printe
On the activity of Greek merchants in Transylvania, Wallachia and Moldavia during the Seventeenth and Eighteenth centuries: the trade in paper, printe

Summary/Abstract: Paper produced in the Venetian territories, renowned for its quality and resistance (texture), was greatly valued on the European markets. Several types of writing paper and paper for the printing press were exported to the Ottoman Levant and to Eastern and Central Europe. Until the end of the Eighteenth century, Venetian paper was preferred as an import in these areas, due to its high quality and high resistance to humidity; this held true even in Vienna, though paper made in France or the United Provinces dominated Western markets in terms of sales volume and varieties on offer. Printed works were another Venetian product exported to the northern Danubian territories, either by sea via Constantinople and the Lower Danube ports, or overland through the Balkans. This category includes religious books printed in Greek – meant for Orthodox believers in Eastern and Central Europe – historical or philosophical works, and the Greek and Latin classics, all for a limited market. The “small wares”, as they were called in the custom records where they were taxed by quantity (per “load”) were mercer’s wares, intended for a specialised clientele (Morocco leather craftsmen, harness makers, tailors and skinners), and cosmetics, also targeting a small number of clients. The Greek merchants were greatly involved in trading these goods, though such wares played only a marginal part in their business, textiles and glassware being the main Venetian goods sold in the Romanian Principalities and in Transylvania. On the basis of unpublished Italian sources, this paper will provide some quantitative and qualitative data on the imports of Venetian paper, printed works and “small” wares in Transylvania, Wallachia and Moldavia in the Seventeenth and Eighteenth centuries.

• Details
• Contents