Borza Tibor (szerk.): A Magyar Kereskedelmi és Vendéglátóipari Múzeum évkönyve 1976 (Budapest, Magyar Kereskedelmi és Vendéglátóipari Múzeum, 1976)

Pálmány Béla: Szécsény mezőváros és környéke kereskedelme és vendéglátása 1728-1848

BÉLA PÁLMÁNY COMMERCE AND CATERING IN SZÉCSÉNY AND SURROUNDINGS BETWEEN 1828 AND 1848. Szécsény, in county Nógrád, is on the road leading from the Hungarian Plain and the Danube through Losonc (Lucenec) to Kassa (Kosice) and Besztercebánya (Bánská Bystrica). Because of its favourable situation markets were held outside its walls already in the 1330s and in 1331 it was accorded urban privileges. After the Turks were expelled from the castle in 1690 the town was settled again and by the 1720s, many craftsmen and traders lived within its walls, growing to a fair number by 1765. In 1720 Jews settled in the town, making up the bulk of traders. They lived mostly on trade in agricultural produce and the lease of landlords' rights granted by Royal privilege. The article goes on to classify craftsmen according to trade and traders, according to the nature of this activity and the size of Regalia — the privileges granted by the king, are discussed, including customs and staple rights, the distilling of spirits and the brewing of beer, as well as licences to sell wine, beer and spirits. The importance of incomes thus derived and connected clashes of interests, as well as agreements among the landlords are described. Cattle trading by licensed butchers, brick-making, shop-rents, mill-rights etc. are discussed and the income derived therefrom is compared to total income. The domain holders obtained 40.71% in 1768, 64.63% in 1776 and 18.64% between 1833—1839 in this way. The regalia ensured them key positions in trading and early industrial growth thus creating uniqual conditions for classes and strata having no such privileges. 121