THE DICTIONARY OF MERCHANDISE, and Nomenclature in All Languages; for the use of Counting-Houses: Containing, the History, Places of Growth, Culture, Use, and Marks of Excellency, of such Natural Productions as form Articles of Commerce; with their names in All European Languages.

'A MERCHANT' [KAUFFMANN, C. H.]:

Published by London: Printed for the Author. Sold by T. Boosey., 1803

About this Item

First edition. Octavo. Twentieth-century full brown calf with titles in gilt to the spine. Nineteenth-century engraved armorial bookplate of William Baker to the front endpaper. pp.iv, 380. A very good copy, the binding square and tight with rubbing to the joints, board edges and corners, a little wear to the spine ends, and a little crackling and a few scuffs to the spine. The contents with a little toning and a small chip to the blank bottom corner of pp.49-50 are otherwise in very good order. The uncommon first edition of this highly-detailed guide to the multifarious goods derived from the natural world which passed through European ports at the dawn of the nineteenth century, from coconuts to elephant's teeth, brimstone to sumac. A typical (shorter) entry reads thus: "COWRIES: Cowries are small, and exceedingly white shells, brought from the Maldivia islands, and used as money in the greatest part of the East Indies, particularly in the states of the Great Mogul. These shells, though in all appearance, a production of the sea, are however found on land, and dug pretty deep in the ground. The Cowries are used also in the trade, which the Europeans carry on along the coast of Guinea. The Dutch, for the general part, furnish such European nations, as trade for slaves, with cowries; and the vast quantities they sell, will be no matter of surprise, upon considering that the French give sometimes eighty pounds weight of Cowries for a negro; and for gold, ivory, wax, and other commodities, in proportion. The negroes not only use the Cowries for money, but also for collars and bracelets to adorn themselves".

Seller Inventory # 1621

Bibliographic Details

• Title: THE DICTIONARY OF MERCHANDISE, and Nomenclature in All Languages; for the use of Counting-Houses: Containing, the History, Places of Growth, Culture, Use, and Marks of Excellency, of such Natural Productions as form Articles of Commerce; with their names in All European Languages.
• Publisher: London: Printed for the Author. Sold by T. Boosey.
• Publication Date: 1803
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition: 1st Edition