Re: Quite TAN but contemporary and possibly interesting --- Aksum
June Samaras <[email protected]> Sun, 15 Dec 2019 00:38:00 -0500
| Newsgroups | gmane.education.classics |
|---|---|
| Message-ID | <CA+zSR036nW91-JB81wecbAFKvX2+7xvc9WZ81W-QsrCG0+sXhw@mail.gmail.com> |
The use of "Tally sticks" to record financial transactions seems to date back to palaeolithic times. A *tally stick* (or simply *tally*[1] <https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=3Dhttps%3A%2F%2Fen.wik= ipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FTally_stick%23cite_note-1&data=3D02%7C01%7CCLASSICS= -L%40lsv.uky.edu%7Cdcf21459e669412ac84408d781210d11%7C2b30530b69b64457b8184= 81cb53d42ae%7C0%7C0%7C637119851267601378&sdata=3Dc6r0tQO%2F4Ukox5WVeH%2= BXJpyRmXlNxlMmt%2BeAC3lK7Os%3D&reserved=3D0>) was an ancient memory aid device used to record and document numbers, quantities, or even messages. Tally sticks first appear as animal bones carved with notches during the Upper Palaeolithic <https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=3Dhttps%3A%2F%2Fen.wik= ipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FUpper_Palaeolithic&data=3D02%7C01%7CCLASSICS-L%40ls= v.uky.edu%7Cdcf21459e669412ac84408d781210d11%7C2b30530b69b64457b818481cb53d= 42ae%7C0%7C0%7C637119851267611369&sdata=3D%2BGt5fM%2FTd8zvl%2BVBeEjSwdp= IPwMIDGJcYlVkqF9xsvg%3D&reserved=3D0>; a notable example is the Ishango Bone <https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=3Dhtt= ps%3A%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FIshango_Bone&data=3D02%7C01%7CCLAS= SICS-L%40lsv.uky.edu%7Cdcf21459e669412ac84408d781210d11%7C2b30530b69b64457b= 818481cb53d42ae%7C0%7C0%7C637119851267611369&sdata=3Dol5WQZsd7k4syfWu1c= QeVVeQf%2FZVQVv6SpoSXyZZu4s%3D&reserved=3D0>. Historical reference is made by Pliny the Elder <https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=3Dhttps%3A%2F%2Fen.wik= ipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FPliny_the_Elder&data=3D02%7C01%7CCLASSICS-L%40lsv.u= ky.edu%7Cdcf21459e669412ac84408d781210d11%7C2b30530b69b64457b818481cb53d42a= e%7C0%7C0%7C637119851267611369&sdata=3D0j0iM%2FcEJJWIzaMjfIChGR1PDd5NtH= zYAnG9SbOrGho%3D&reserved=3D0> (AD 23=E2=80=9379) about the best wood to use for tallies, and by Marco Polo <https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=3Dhttps%3A%2F%2Fen.wik= ipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FMarco_Polo&data=3D02%7C01%7CCLASSICS-L%40lsv.uky.ed= u%7Cdcf21459e669412ac84408d781210d11%7C2b30530b69b64457b818481cb53d42ae%7C0= %7C0%7C637119851267611369&sdata=3D4NAQ1KlKozRZ69Zt8W671TrrGYym9KT%2FReO= gH8%2Fb6oE%3D&reserved=3D0> (1254=E2=80=931324) who mentions the use of the tally in China. Tallies have been used for numerous purposes such as messaging and scheduling, and especially in financial and legal transactions, to the point of being currency <https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=3Dhttps%3A%2F%2Fen.wik= ipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FCurrency&data=3D02%7C01%7CCLASSICS-L%40lsv.uky.edu%= 7Cdcf21459e669412ac84408d781210d11%7C2b30530b69b64457b818481cb53d42ae%7C0%7= C0%7C637119851267611369&sdata=3DAZ8KpTJsNXMC52xTtJjUWpaqXNBDwhpd28qGaqt= QnI8%3D&reserved=3D0>. https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=3Dhttps%3A%2F%2Fen.wiki= pedia.org%2Fwiki%2FTally_stick&data=3D02%7C01%7CCLASSICS-L%40lsv.uky.ed= u%7Cdcf21459e669412ac84408d781210d11%7C2b30530b69b64457b818481cb53d42ae%7C0= %7C0%7C637119851267611369&sdata=3DOo35iJHz%2B05lUipezOz%2FEWBa4IIJ4hZe1= ZfRFkDZOSM%3D&reserved=3D0 The most prominent and best recorded use of the split tally stick or "nick-stick"[6] <https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=3Dhttp= s%3A%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FTally_stick%23cite_note-6&data=3D02= %7C01%7CCLASSICS-L%40lsv.uky.edu%7Cdcf21459e669412ac84408d781210d11%7C2b305= 30b69b64457b818481cb53d42ae%7C0%7C0%7C637119851267611369&sdata=3DSAoCQK= MGWJVcu5R1w%2BDINulDw3tsqIrBgE0oNEcNpFM%3D&reserved=3D0>[7] <https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=3Dhttps%3A%2F%2Fen.wik= ipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FTally_stick%23cite_note-7&data=3D02%7C01%7CCLASSICS= -L%40lsv.uky.edu%7Cdcf21459e669412ac84408d781210d11%7C2b30530b69b64457b8184= 81cb53d42ae%7C0%7C0%7C637119851267611369&sdata=3DFNiwsBAy4CqUybQqdDHJTs= IWP6EMb%2F%2FOmI3dL7FZal8%3D&reserved=3D0> being used as a form of currency[8] <https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=3Dhttps%3A%2F%2Fen.wik= ipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FTally_stick%23cite_note-BBC_Radio_50_Things-8&data= =3D02%7C01%7CCLASSICS-L%40lsv.uky.edu%7Cdcf21459e669412ac84408d781210d11%7C= 2b30530b69b64457b818481cb53d42ae%7C0%7C0%7C637119851267611369&sdata=3D9= Rm9RN8u2r%2FmpSQhkaiv5nq6NoeCvRp52ApigEk5%2BeQ%3D&reserved=3D0> was when Henry I <https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=3Dhttps%3= A%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FHenry_I_of_England&data=3D02%7C01%7CCL= ASSICS-L%40lsv.uky.edu%7Cdcf21459e669412ac84408d781210d11%7C2b30530b69b6445= 7b818481cb53d42ae%7C0%7C0%7C637119851267611369&sdata=3DNn9fvxxekIBlooSA= so5pYA%2Bztz9MtGWSCQ9K7Kg9CB8%3D&reserved=3D0> introduced the tally stick system in medieval England in around 1100. He would accept the tally stick only for taxes, and it was a tool of the Exchequer <https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=3Dhttps%3A%2F%2Fen.wik= ipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FExchequer&data=3D02%7C01%7CCLASSICS-L%40lsv.uky.edu= %7Cdcf21459e669412ac84408d781210d11%7C2b30530b69b64457b818481cb53d42ae%7C0%= 7C0%7C637119851267611369&sdata=3DTdyiHKQ2x%2BXci8SVDbeiw%2BTlfZ%2F0HFGg= eQ%2FB84xf5nw%3D&reserved=3D0> for the collection of taxes by local sheriffs (tax farmers "farming the shire")[*citation needed <https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=3Dhttps%3A%2F%2Fen.wik= ipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FWikipedia%3ACitation_needed&data=3D02%7C01%7CCLASSI= CS-L%40lsv.uky.edu%7Cdcf21459e669412ac84408d781210d11%7C2b30530b69b64457b81= 8481cb53d42ae%7C0%7C0%7C637119851267611369&sdata=3DXMHZ85xal%2B787MEq3V= 7hI2hFMav5oTeLcAqI%2BkLMGjA%3D&reserved=3D0>*] for seven centuries. <snip> Royal tallies (debt of the Crown) also played a role in the formation of the Bank of England <https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=3D= https%3A%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FBank_of_England&data=3D02%7C01%= 7CCLASSICS-L%40lsv.uky.edu%7Cdcf21459e669412ac84408d781210d11%7C2b30530b69b= 64457b818481cb53d42ae%7C0%7C0%7C637119851267611369&sdata=3Du26xXl08GFG3= 9dBnpBF540Tt0Egnsoh9rej1wmDcT5w%3D&reserved=3D0> at the end of the 17th century. In 1697, the bank issued =C2=A31 million worth of = stock in exchange for =C2=A3800,000 worth of tallies at par and =C2=A3200,000 in = bank notes. This new stock was said to be "engrafted". The government promised not only to pay the Bank interest on the tallies subscribed but to redeem them over a period of years. The "engrafted" stock was then cancelled simultaneously with the redemption.[10] <https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=3Dhttps%3A%2F%2Fen.wik= ipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FTally_stick%23cite_note-10&data=3D02%7C01%7CCLASSIC= S-L%40lsv.uky.edu%7Cdcf21459e669412ac84408d781210d11%7C2b30530b69b64457b818= 481cb53d42ae%7C0%7C0%7C637119851267611369&sdata=3DnWJ7iSz5qGEG5o06ABU%2= BBuGazelCehRPdl0JqW76Zro%3D&reserved=3D0> The split tally of the Exchequer remained in continuous use in England until 1826. In 1834 tally sticks representing six centuries worth of financial records were ordered to be burned in a stove in the Houses of Parliament <https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=3Dhttps%3A%= 2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FPalace_of_Westminster&data=3D02%7C01%7CC= LASSICS-L%40lsv.uky.edu%7Cdcf21459e669412ac84408d781210d11%7C2b30530b69b644= 57b818481cb53d42ae%7C0%7C0%7C637119851267611369&sdata=3DcORTcaRguJl2KpH= wwdBlYo7%2FLeerifhkPgTrvSwBsKQ%3D&reserved=3D0>. The resulting fire set the chimney ablaze and then spread until most of the building was destroyed <https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url= =3Dhttps%3A%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FBurning_of_Parliament&data= =3D02%7C01%7CCLASSICS-L%40lsv.uky.edu%7Cdcf21459e669412ac84408d781210d11%7C= 2b30530b69b64457b818481cb53d42ae%7C0%7C0%7C637119851267611369&sdata=3DC= emTkVO38Q3QC3xl6foamynJghksJuWcjrUxKoIwbp4%3D&reserved=3D0> .[8] <https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=3Dhttps%3A%2F%2Fen.wik= ipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FTally_stick%23cite_note-BBC_Radio_50_Things-8&data= =3D02%7C01%7CCLASSICS-L%40lsv.uky.edu%7Cdcf21459e669412ac84408d781210d11%7C= 2b30530b69b64457b818481cb53d42ae%7C0%7C0%7C637119851267611369&sdata=3D9= Rm9RN8u2r%2FmpSQhkaiv5nq6NoeCvRp52ApigEk5%2BeQ%3D&reserved=3D0> This event was described by Charles Dickens <https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=3Dhttps%3A%2F%2Fen.wik= ipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FCharles_Dickens&data=3D02%7C01%7CCLASSICS-L%40lsv.u= ky.edu%7Cdcf21459e669412ac84408d781210d11%7C2b30530b69b64457b818481cb53d42a= e%7C0%7C0%7C637119851267621361&sdata=3Dsn%2BvNc07%2BM1Gr9GB3DiPYAkklAjo= sbn8W2KcX6TK9BY%3D&reserved=3D0> in an 1855 article on administrative reform.[11] <https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=3Dhttps%3A%2F%2Fen.wik= ipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FTally_stick%23cite_note-11&data=3D02%7C01%7CCLASSIC= S-L%40lsv.uky.edu%7Cdcf21459e669412ac84408d781210d11%7C2b30530b69b64457b818= 481cb53d42ae%7C0%7C0%7C637119851267621361&sdata=3DlE%2FxEqb%2BPolgJy91Z= 5aeD%2BLO4uX0yLjMTwK%2FDn9ZlCU%3D&reserved=3D0> Tally sticks feature in the design of the entrance gates to The National Archives <https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=3Dhttps%3A%2F%2Fen.wik= ipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FThe_National_Archives_(United_Kingdom&data=3D02%7C0= 1%7CCLASSICS-L%40lsv.uky.edu%7Cdcf21459e669412ac84408d781210d11%7C2b30530b6= 9b64457b818481cb53d42ae%7C0%7C0%7C637119851267621361&sdata=3DB14gkWgQqO= lrc3joDtCWDcWWtYPDtj2AWnln%2BwqUsQc%3D&reserved=3D0)> at Kew <https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=3Dhttps%3A%2F%2Fen= .wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FKew&data=3D02%7C01%7CCLASSICS-L%40lsv.uky.edu%7= Cdcf21459e669412ac84408d781210d11%7C2b30530b69b64457b818481cb53d42ae%7C0%7C= 0%7C637119851267621361&sdata=3DpzlqTh%2FKd736Bh68jbnAZjZ3oJ%2FlombLJ2SL= LfnTltY%3D&reserved=3D0>. Shenton, Caroline (2012). "Chapter 1: Thursday 16 October 1834, 6am: Mr Hume's Motion for a New House". *The Day Parliament Burned Down*. Oxford: Oxford University Press. ISBN <https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=3Dhttps%3A%2F%2Fen.wik= ipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FInternational_Standard_Book_Number&data=3D02%7C01%7= CCLASSICS-L%40lsv.uky.edu%7Cdcf21459e669412ac84408d781210d11%7C2b30530b69b6= 4457b818481cb53d42ae%7C0%7C0%7C637119851267621361&sdata=3DgIri6NO4W5%2F= iEhpfIZtCzRwJAEDzmRNscgOZKppbWw0%3D&reserved=3D0> 9780199646708 <https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=3Dhttps%3A%2F%2Fen.wik= ipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FSpecial%3ABookSources%2F9780199646708&data=3D02%7C0= 1%7CCLASSICS-L%40lsv.uky.edu%7Cdcf21459e669412ac84408d781210d11%7C2b30530b6= 9b64457b818481cb53d42ae%7C0%7C0%7C637119851267621361&sdata=3DU2HIYgV0Zj= VAWmPlaX6NHlLVIJQcyiR3y42wDRrkO0Q%3D&reserved=3D0>. On Sat, 14 Dec 2019 at 23:00, Ralph Hancock <[email protected]> wrote= : > The ancient method of making an agreement by cutting something in two > survived well into the 18th century with the 'indenture' -- literally 'a > toothed thing'. A contract, for example for an apprenticeship, would be > written in duplicate on a sheet, which would then be cut in half between > the two texts in a random zigzag. Each party to the contract would keep o= ne > half. Its validity could be verified by matching it to the other half to > see if the cut edges fitted together. > > A fancy ecclesiastical indenture dating from 1252 at > > https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=3Dhttps%3A%2F%2Fen.wi= kipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FIndenture%23%2Fmedia%2FFile%3ACarta_de_la_Clerec%25C3%= 25ADa_de_Ledesma._1252.jpg&data=3D02%7C01%7CCLASSICS-L%40lsv.uky.edu%7C= dcf21459e669412ac84408d781210d11%7C2b30530b69b64457b818481cb53d42ae%7C0%7C0= %7C637119851267621361&sdata=3DyIQmFhmSAj3CeaMbRLl3C5sS1MzIoK5ysBz8YcknN= JE%3D&reserved=3D0 > > > And a more prosaic printed one for an impoverished 18th century migrant > working his passage from Ireland to America at > > https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=3Dhttp%3A%2F%2Fwww.vi= rginiamemory.com%2Fblogs%2Fout_of_the_box%2Fwp-content%2Fblogs.dir%2F5%2Ffi= les%2Findentured-servants%2Findenture001_it.jpg&data=3D02%7C01%7CCLASSI= CS-L%40lsv.uky.edu%7Cdcf21459e669412ac84408d781210d11%7C2b30530b69b64457b81= 8481cb53d42ae%7C0%7C0%7C637119851267621361&sdata=3DJRZmsMhmNGZKOoAPGo78= 3iO%2B%2B7vhGp30qcX8xyjqOfk%3D&reserved=3D0 > > > RH > --=20 June Samaras 2020 Old Station Rd Streetsville,Ontario Canada L5M 2V1 Tel : 905-542-1877 E-mail : [email protected]