Ezpeleta, I. & Co., and Ezpeleta, F. X. & Co.

XI/38/94, 1 box

Inigo Ezpeleta & Co. were a firm based in Bordeaux who had the monopoly of quicksilver production at the Almaden mines from 1830 when the government sold the mines by auction. This contract was rescinded and a new one signed by Lionel de Rothschild in 1835. The Rothschilds allowed Ezpeleta to participate in the contract, and from then on he seems to have acted in partnership with them. The letters deal largely with orders and deliveries of quicksilver, but they show, too, that Ezpeleta dealt in other commodities such as indigo and wine, as well as accepting and discharging bills. In 1835 many of them relate to the new contract. In addition many letters relate to Danube Canal shares. There are fewer letters in the 1840s, particularly between 1845-1849. From 1839, I. Ezpeleta becomes F. X. Ezpeleta. The company also acted as a forwarding agent.

French, Spanish