Beschreibung:

CHIOZA, Zuanne, Venetian merchant, associate and representative of Michele Foscari in Crete. 3 autograph letters signed and two letters signed to Michele Foscari in Venice, Crete, 1 January 1481 - 10 October 1492 ; GIUSTINIANI, Piero, autograph letter signed to Zacharie Giustiniani n.p., 4 December 148- ; COPPO, Daniele, autograph letter signed to Michele Foscari, Crete, 4 August 1485 , concerning various trading transactions between the port of Candia and Venice, on the ship Morosino , a 'galia' of the Venetian fleet, exporting wine from Crete, describing the means and sums of payment including some in Venetian cloth 'paonazo e cupo', a muscatel at a price that 'fo uno miracolo che uno tanto duro vendedor de vini havesse condexeso a questo prezio con el barato', assessing the purchase of casks, explaining the company's difficulties and excusing his own operation, resorting to Latin and quoting Plato but usually Venetian in tone, altogether approximately 9½ pages, 160 x 218mm -- 334 x 227mm , 7 address panels, 2 endorsed on receipt, 1 papered seal with string, 5 with traces of seal, 3 of these with seal impression (one letter with holes from seal affecting a few letters and a repaired tear on integral address leaf, small tears at edge). Modern black morocco box. Chioza's letters seem to have been written at the last moment, just before the ships left port, so that details of the latest transactions were carried back to Venice with the wine, cheese, and other local produce. They provide a detailed account and a vivid portrait of the operation of a company from one of the greatest trading states of 15th-century Europe. In all the letters Chioza mentions difficulties reflecting important economic issues of the day. In particular, he makes regular reference to the balance of credit and debt, and the constraints imposed by the head office in Venice. Although Chioza quotes from Plato in all these letters, the haste with which they were written necessitated general use of the more familiar Venetian dialect. Other concerns aired in the letters are wide-ranging and include the maintenance of the ships, the lack of barrels and ample materials for the wine trade, in particular that which was appurtenant to the cooper, problems with 'scaricatori', the necessity of trading 'scambi in natura', the effect of internal politics within the Foscari family and the pressure put upon the performance of representatives abroad, and finally, fear of the Turk. Together the letters illustrate an important aspect of the Venetian trading empire, whilst each provides a different view on the relationship between Venice and its colonies, and on the competence of the minions of its mercantile interests. The letters contain much technical detail, not least the use of 'il mistato', a unit of measurement which is thought to equal a little over 10kg, or nearly 12 litres. It was obviously used as a standard way of reckonning the value of a barrel of wine, and had various values depending upon its translation into gold or silver. Merchant ships would arrive at Candia with goods to be traded in exchange for wine or other Cretan produce; the second letter in this collection records how woollen cloth, 'scarlato finissimo' or 'paonazo', was shipped as part of an advance by 'il medico' Zan Zusto and Zorz de Mezo. Although business is conducted under the auspices of the Foscari house, other famous Venetian merchant family names appear, such as Correr, Contarini, Gritti, Dandolo, Barbarigo, Giustinian, and Venier. Relations between Crete and Venice were mutually beneficial, and although wealth may have passed principally in one direction, it was to the advantage of most of Venice's colonies to be a part of the 'Serenissima' at the height of its trading and diplomatic powers. The fall of Constantinople to the Turks in 1453, and the subsequent treaty of Lodi in 1454 left Venice balanced precariously between the ill-feeling of Europe and the hostile adversary in the east