I stumbled across this essay today following a discussion with AHB and thought others here might enjoy reading it...
https://people.ischool.berkeley.edu/~du ... _and_K.pdf
The Beginning and End of the Port Commodity Chain, 1703-1860
The Beginning and End of the Port Commodity Chain, 1703-1860
"The first duty of Port is to be red"
Ernest H. Cockburn
Ernest H. Cockburn
Re: The Beginning and End of the Port Commodity Chain, 1703-1860
Interesting to read that the challenge of judging port at a young age was recognised way back:
"Fortification further complicated the negotiations between links because it took quite skilled palates to assess the potential of young wines."
"The changing character of the wine and the knowledge required to assess future quality and set current prices made it hard for honest merchants to deal with inexperienced clients. Equally, it made it easy for unscrupulous merchants to cheat unsuspecting clients. In both cases, the nature of the wine put a premium on experience and knowledge in the chain."
Source: HoS: letterbook of Offley & Co., Offley & Co. to Thomas Harridge, May 6, 1793
"Fortification further complicated the negotiations between links because it took quite skilled palates to assess the potential of young wines."
"The changing character of the wine and the knowledge required to assess future quality and set current prices made it hard for honest merchants to deal with inexperienced clients. Equally, it made it easy for unscrupulous merchants to cheat unsuspecting clients. In both cases, the nature of the wine put a premium on experience and knowledge in the chain."
Source: HoS: letterbook of Offley & Co., Offley & Co. to Thomas Harridge, May 6, 1793
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Re: The Beginning and End of the Port Commodity Chain, 1703-1860
Thanks, DRT, a very interesting read.
Re: The Beginning and End of the Port Commodity Chain, 1703-1860
That's a great read! Mind if I cross-post it on FTLOP as well?
Glenn Elliott
Re: The Beginning and End of the Port Commodity Chain, 1703-1860
No problem
"The first duty of Port is to be red"
Ernest H. Cockburn
Ernest H. Cockburn
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Re: The Beginning and End of the Port Commodity Chain, 1703-1860
Thank you, great read.
- slateshalehead
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Re: The Beginning and End of the Port Commodity Chain, 1703-1860
Very interesting read, thank you for sharing!
- slateshalehead
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Re: The Beginning and End of the Port Commodity Chain, 1703-1860
This paper provides a bit of a broader view of the development of the port trade from the economic perspective: https://www.econstor.eu/handle/10419/247044