Mathurin Trottier (1755-1843) - Merchant and shipowner from Nantes. 6 vols. In-folio, full contemporary vellum. Archives consisting of three manuscript volumes containing copies of business letters addressed mainly to French correspondents, arranged chronologically (1776-1781). The first volume begins in 1776, when Mathurin Trottier settled in Nantes. A handwritten table of correspondents' names appears at the end of each volume. Another volume contains copies of business letters addressed to correspondents outside Europe (1834-1839). Another volume contains copies of trade letters for the years 1763-1765, probably written by Mathurin Trottier's father. The final volume describes receipts and expenses for the period 1832-1834. This correspondence with merchants based in the main cities and ports of France, the West Indies and Europe is a valuable source of information on political, social and economic life at the time. Well-preserved, with fine, legible handwriting, two volumes show wear, particularly on the spine, with significant loss of material.