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Tweaking financial instruments: bills obligatory in sixteenth-century Antwerp

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 December 2015

Jeroen Puttevils
Jeroen Puttevils*
Affiliation:
University of Antwerp
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Abstract

This article discusses the use of private promissory notes in the sixteenth-century commercial metropolis of Antwerp. Students of financial history tend to look for first instances of financial techniques and institutions such as bills of exchange, share trading, sovereign debt and banks. However, financial innovation can also be found in the piecemeal adaptation of an older, existing technique, institution or instrument as the result of changes in the market and of demands exerted by particular groups within that economy. The outcome of this process is determined by the structure of the economy in question, its institutional arrangements and the willingness of authorities to adapt the rules.

Keywords

Antwerpbills obligatoryfinancial innovationsixteenth century

JEL classification

N83: Europe: Pre-1913 N23: Europe: Pre-1913
Type
Articles
Information
Financial History Review , Volume 22 , Issue 3 , December 2015 , pp. 337 - 361
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Copyright
Copyright © European Association for Banking and Financial History e.V. 2015 

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References

Sources

City Archive, Antwerp

Chamber of Insolvency, Fair account ledger Frans de Pape, IB no. 776.

Chamber of Insolvency, Journal Daniel de Bruyne, IB no. 788.

Chamber of Insolvency, Correspondence records Pieter Van der Molen, IB no. 2898.

Gebodboeken (city announcements), Pk no. 913-929 (1439-1794).

Notarial Archives, N no. 2071, N no. 2078, N no. 3133 and N no.3568.

Processen (trials), 7 no. 12144.

Vierschaar (court), Rulings books, V 1233 (1504-5) and V 1238-40 (1540).

Museum Plantin Moretus, Antwerp

Manuscripts, Journal Herman Janssens, 1550-70, Arch. 681.

Manuscripts, Plantin accounts, Arch. 98 and 116.

State Archive, Brussels

Council of Brabant, Rulings books, 589, 1544.

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