NRA-L-000700 / 1850
Letter to Samuel Finzi d.o Magrini, 28 August 1850
Commercial letter concerning a fair, leather and textile prices, with a heavily revised reply draft.
Neruda Archives
NRA-L-000700
Transcript and English translation
working scholarly aid
Letter heading — Image 2
Original transcript
Ferrara p Sam.l B.to Finzi d.o Magrini
Letter heading — Image 2
English translation
Ferrara, for Sam.l B.to Finzi, called Magrini.
Incoming letter — Image 2
Original transcript
Sinig 28 aug 1850
Ancora non giunse la part.a Corame da [illeggibile], e [illeggibile]
poco [illeggibile] deli S.r Levi e Camerini, i quali mi dicono aver rimesso le loro
[illeggibile]. A tuttora la Fiera è languida e pochiss.i aff. Molte piccole
Pelli Secche, e poche Vacchette a la più forte da £ 55 @ 60 [illeggibile]
Bolognesi e Romagnoli che comprarono a £ 37 a 37½ in carta, e
poca robba di secondo buono di Pietroburgo da 54 @ 55 [illeggibile]
ristretto £ 33¼ met. [illeggibile] qui e porto qui; che [illeggibile]
ma procurerò sempre il [illeggibile] frutti e vantaggi.
Tutti le Cotoni e Cotonine nel massimo sostegno ed [illeggibile]
[perdita di carta] Aumento. li buoni Water 6/14 non si ottengono a meno di
£ 2 @ 2.10 met. e 16/24 £ 2.35 @ 2.40. Nelle Sete fine
vi sono molti aff. fino £ 38½ @ 40, Anche le [illeggibile] sono [illeggibile]
molto ricercate volendo £ 12 p le qualità di Egitto marc. Groves
se ne vendettero Rub. 500 parte porto a Ravenna daziate [illeggibile]
[illeggibile] e parte porte a Pesaro fino £ 11¾ Rom.s met. [illeggibile]
Granaglie senz’ aff.
e con stima [illeggibile]
Onoratemi di vostri aff. Comandi
[nome illeggibile] Levi
Notes
Paper loss affects the beginning of the line before “Aumento”. Pale perpendicular writing is show-through from the other side. Rub. and Rom.s met. are retained without expanding uncertain units or currencies. Several linking clauses and one commodity name remain unreadable; the sender’s given name is not securely read.
Incoming letter — Image 2
English translation
Senigallia, 28 August 1850.
The consignment of leather from [illegible] has not yet arrived, and [illegible]. Little [illegible] of Messrs Levi and Camerini, who tell me that they have remitted their [illegible]. So far the fair is sluggish and there are very few transactions. There are many small dry skins and few cowhides; the strongest are priced at £55 to £60 [illegible]. Bolognese and Romagnol buyers bought at £37 to £37½ in paper money. There is little good second-grade merchandise from Petersburg at 54 to 55 [illegible], reduced to £33¼ in metallic money [illegible] here and delivered here; [illegible]. But I shall always try to secure your [illegible] returns and advantages.
Cottons and cotton fabrics are holding very firmly and [illegible] rise. Good Water yarn, 6/14, cannot be obtained for less than £2 to £2.10 in metallic money; 16/24 costs £2.35 to £2.40. In fine silk there are many transactions up to £38½ to £40. The [illegible] are also [illegible] much sought after, the asking price being £12 for Egyptian quality bearing the Groves mark. Some 500 Rub. have been sold, some delivered duty-paid at Ravenna [illegible], and some delivered at Pesaro at up to £11¾, Rom.s met., [illegible]. No transactions in grain.
With esteem, [illegible].
Please favour me with your orders.
[Illegible given name] Levi.
Notes
Paper loss affects the beginning of the line before “Aumento”. Pale perpendicular writing is show-through from the other side. Rub. and Rom.s met. are retained without expanding uncertain units or currencies. Several linking clauses and one commodity name remain unreadable; the sender’s given name is not securely read.
Address panel — Image 1
Original transcript
B.to Sig
Samuel B.to Finzi d.o Magrini
Ferrara
Address panel — Image 1
English translation
B.to Mr
Samuel B.to Finzi, called Magrini
Ferrara
Recipient's reply draft below the address — Image 1
Original transcript
[cancellato: illeggibile] Ho aggradito li relati [aggiunta: Commerciali]
indicatomi nella Gr.a 28 corr. ma con dispiacere nulla mi è d’approfittarvi
p gli elevati prezzi de Generi specialm.te [cancellato: mi li] [aggiunta: mi] Bulgari de quali [cancellato: decisamente]
ne vorrò piccolissimi acquisti pure pel bisogno del mio Negozio e [illeggibile] [aggiunta: vuolsi]
limitando le [cancellato: illeggibile] mie voglie
[aggiunta: ai] [illeggibile] in Corame e [aggiunta: fini] velot.i de Cottoni cominciano a muoversi; non vorrei che [cancellato: fossero alla]
[aggiunta: vigilia] [cancellato: illeggibile] di [illeggibile]; dove qualche C.so [illeggibile] d’uno contro Cento
Di probabile perdita. Da q.to rileverete [illeggibile] [aggiunta: saggio e [illeggibile]] [cancellato: illeggibile] ricev. il loro Corame sotto
ben intesi [cancellato: da d.to Fratello Levi] delli V.i [illeggibile] con soddisfaz.ne e qualità
che ne godo [cancellato: qui si continuano le Vendite con favore] il che avrò piacere sentire anche costà
[cancellato: illeggibile]
colla continuaz. de V.i relate Generali [cancellato: illeggibile]
[aggiunta: e come pure in che opinione sono le Valonee]
[aggiunta: continuano le Vendite con favore]
Notes
The reply draft has extensive deletions and interlinear additions. Its revised reading is translated continuously; recoverable deleted passages are retained below it. The cancelled sales sentence and its keyed replacement are distinct manuscript occurrences. Bulgari is retained as a trade term. The sense of the handwritten addition saggio is not secure; its English rendering remains a short gap. B.to is retained in the address without an invented expansion. The docket reads M. B. Levi; it is separate from the address and does not establish the sender’s full given names.
Recipient's reply draft below the address — Image 1
English translation
I appreciated the commercial reports indicated to me in your welcome letter of the 28th of this month. To my regret, there is nothing of which I can take advantage because of the high prices of the goods, especially Bulgari. I shall want only very small purchases of them even for the needs of my shop, and [illegible]; it is necessary to restrict my wishes [illegible].
[Illegible] in leather, and fine cotton velvets are beginning to move. I should not wish [illegible] on the eve of [illegible], where some case [illegible] one against a hundred of probable loss. From this you will gather [illegible]. [Illegible] and [illegible] received their leather under [illegible]; clearly understood [illegible] of your [illegible], with satisfaction and quality. This pleases me, and I shall be pleased to hear this from you too, with the continuation of your general reports, and also what is thought of valonia. Sales continue favourably.
Deleted passages: “mi li”; “decidedly”; “they were on”; “from the said brother Levi”; “sales here continue favourably”. Other deleted words and clauses are illegible.
Notes
The reply draft has extensive deletions and interlinear additions. Its revised reading is translated continuously; recoverable deleted passages are retained below it. The cancelled sales sentence and its keyed replacement are distinct manuscript occurrences. Bulgari is retained as a trade term. The sense of the handwritten addition saggio is not secure; its English rendering remains a short gap. B.to is retained in the address without an invented expansion. The docket reads M. B. Levi; it is separate from the address and does not establish the sender’s full given names.
Discovery Terms
- Finzi–Magrini Correspondence
- Trade fairs
- Leather trade
- Textiles
- Prices