Vin

1700 · rif. 12425 — Brittany: J.F. Clément 1700. Contemporary blind-ruled calf rubbed minor defects gilt spine and red morocco label marbled endleaves red edges. This ready reckoner's over 5000 entries would serve WHOLESALERS OF FERMENTED DRINKS AND DISTILLED SPIRITS TAX COLLECTORS VINTNERS BREWERS DISTILLERS INNKEEPERS AND TAVERNERS in Brittany which had its own semiautonomous tax system from 1532 to 1789. Elegantly executed by a professional scribe this manuscript's eight principal sections cover wines ciders beers perries meads and eaux-de-vie. Each column has volumes from small fractions of a barrel to multiple barrels on the left and the corresponding payments due in livres sous and deniers on the right. First are non-Breton wines then "domestic" wines of Nantes. Third are wines sold within the diocese where they are produced then locally manufactured and consumed ciders perries beers and meads. The following two sections treat beverages generating crown revenue collected from transactions in gross and by the drink - again non-Breton wines then local wines ciders beers perries and meads. The final two sections address distilled fruit liquors and eaux-de-vie both wholesale and retail. The owner of our codex added two one-page appendices. The first provides the payment amounts for imported wines taxed at 44 sous. The second does the math for spirits at 30 sous per velte c. 2 U.S. gallons - up to 10000 veltes. This large volume suggests a successful wine broker commissioned the manuscript. In good condition handsoiling throughout two short tears one just touching text without loss some 550 entries corrected or updated by a contemporary hand. J.F. Clément unknown