Staple right

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For a similarly named but different port concept, see Staple port.

The staple right (also translatable as stacking right or storage right, both from the German Stapelrecht) was a medieval right accorded to certain river ports that required merchant barges or ships to unload their goods at the port, and display them for sale for a certain period, often three days. Only after this option had been given to the local customers was the trader allowed to reload his cargo and travel on with the remaining unsold cargo.[1] [2]

The staple right is sometimes compared to the market right (the right to hold a regular market) as being extremely important for the economic prosperity of the river cities that possessed the right, such as Leipzig, Mainz or Cologne (where a 'Stapelhaus' still stands as a memory of the former right).[3] At the same time it was a strong barrier against long-distance trade due to the increased costs and the time required to unload and load the ships - especially as a river might have multiple staple right cities in a row. This especially affected the transport of perishable goods like foodstuffs, though traders could often pay a fee to avoid having to display their wares, thus making the staple right into a form of trade taxation, with similar, but less severe results.

[edit] References

  1. ^ Saxony - The Facts (publication of the Freistaat Sachsen State Chancellery, August 2006, Page 14. Accessed 2008-02-15.)
  2. ^ History (official City of Wels website. Accessed 2008-02-15.)
  3. ^ The ‘Stapelhaus’ – a symbol of the trade metropolis and other monuments (from the official City of Cologne website. Accessed 2008-02.15.)