Lot 138
Wine Trade
Printed Books, Maps and Manuscripts
Auction: 11 July 2006 at 12:00 BST
Description
Account book of Cabanis frères, merchants of Montpellier in the late eighteenth century. Montpellier, 1771-1791, 370 pages, large folio (510 x 340mm.), on paper, with vellum markers, contemporary vellum boards with flap (worn and stained), some correspondence from their clients loosely inserted, some inserted papers dating from 1806
Footnote
Note: This huge volume paints a remarkable picture of a thriving commercial undertaking over nearly a quarter of a century, including some of the most momentous years in French history. Cabanis frères were merchants and traders based in Montpellier, with a branch in Paris run by Jean Cabanis. They traded in a wide variety of goods but their main concern was with eau de vie and wine (especially the local sweet white wine, muscat). This volume records Cabanis's dealings with local firms such as Troussel et Martel of Sète, Gaujal of Pézenas, Pierre Masson, Aribert cadet, Jullian ainé and others, shipments of wine and spirits to other parts of France, and distillery equipment ("fabrique d'eau de vie") including boilers and barrels.