Land Rent and Crop Revenue Ledger.
[Environs of Bourges], Butet 1764-1775.
Folio (367 x 232 mm.). Contemporary foliation: [i blank], 1, 6-137 leaves. Manuscript in a single cursive hand, partly tabular, ruled in red and brown ink.
Contemporary vellum over paper boards (worn), remnants of four leather ties.
A decade’s agricultural rent and production records (1764/6-73/5) for the Domaine des Bordes and the Domaine de Chevreux. These large properties operated under the metayage system — the land owner supplied seed, livestock and some services for a half-share of the profits. One parcel had a dozen subtenants, including an unmarried woman, Mlle. de Thiange, and comprised two mills, a parish church and parsonage (the dearest lots).
In the first part of the volume, Butet, the estate manager, recorded the dates and amounts of each lessee’s semiannual cash rent. In the second part, he itemized the quantity and retail price of various grains from every field on each farm, the date of the commodity’s delivery to the estate and the cost of threshing. In addition to capons and suckling pigs, payment in kind included “a three-pound pie” from Anne Griveau (f. 10). Leftovers, anyone? The rent payment records of the Domaine d’Aboche have been removed. In good condition.
Price: $500.00