Geniza Lab

Recto/verso: recto

Section:

Recto: Legal document. Partnership record. Dated: February 1092. Location: Fustat. T-S 8J4.11 and T-S NS J6 are part of a record of a trading partnership between Yaḥyā ha-Kohen b. Samuel and ‘Ulla ha-Levi b. Joseph al-Dimashqī, investors with Bishāra the freedman. The full document is comprised of T-S 8J4.11and T-S NS J6 (this record), and T-S 8J4.12 (PGPID 7624). Bishara is to journey to Aleppo and Antioch and to sell goods purchased there in Fusṭāṭ. Bishāra is under instructions to sell only for cash and not to accept credit. Yaḥyā and ‘Ulla are to take two-thirds of the profit, having invested 155 and 1/3 dinars together. Bishāra contributed 20 dinars, and was entitled to one-third of the profit as well as expenses related to the merchandise. Bishāra is not to receive any further daily allowance. Bishāra takes on “the faith of the Heavens”, and agrees not to cheat his partners. Lieberman speculates that T-S Misc 27.4.29 (PGPID 8366) may be a renewal of this partnership relationship. See T-S 8J4.12 (PGPID 2094) for further information about this agreement. (Information from Lieberman, "A Partnership Culture", 172-173) Alternate description: Legal document. Partnership record. Dated: February 1092. Location: Fustat. T-S 8J4.11 is part of a record of a trading partnership between Yaḥyā ha-Kohen b. Samuel and ‘Ulla ha-Levi b. Joseph al-Dimashqī, investors with Bishāra the freedman. The full document is comprised of T-S 8J4.12 (this record), and T-S 8J4.11 and T-S NS J6 (PGPID 7623). Bishara is to journey to Aleppo and Antioch and to sell goods purchased there in Fusṭāṭ. Bishāra is under instructions to sell only for cash and not to accept credit. Yaḥyā and ‘Ulla are to take two-thirds of the profit, having invested 155 and 1/3 dinars together. Bishāra contributed 20 dinars, and was entitled to one-third of the profit as well as expenses related to the merchandise. Bishāra is not to receive any further daily allowance. Bishāra takes on “the faith of the Heavens”, and agrees not to cheat his partners. Lieberman speculates that T-S Misc 27.4.29 (PGPID 8366) may be a renewal of this partnership relationship. Witnessed by Ṣedaqa ha-Kohen b. David, Yakhin he-Ḥazzan b. Abraham and Yiṣḥaq b. Elʿazar. Confirmed by Abraham b. Nathan, Avraham b. Shemaʿya he-Ḥaver and Shelomo b. Yosef ha-Kohen. This document was written in duplicate and given to the two investors, Yaḥyā and ‘Ulla. Bishāra, the active partner, seems not to have received a copy. See also T-S 8J4.11 and T-S NS J6 (PGPID 7623). (Information from Lieberman, "A Partnership Culture", 172-173).

Ed. S. D. Goitein, unpublished editions. Full transcription awaiting digitization https://princetongenizalab.github.io/goitein-notes/5C.2.1%20Mediterranean%20People_%20partnerships_%201-30/T-S%208J4.11%20%28PGPID%202094%29.pdf; also ed. S. D. Goitein, unpublished editions https://princetongenizalab.github.io/goitein-notes/5C.2.1%20Mediterranean%20People_%20partnerships_%201-30/T-S%20NS%20J6_1%20%28PGPID%208703%29.pdf; also ed. S. D. Goitein, unpublished editions https://princetongenizalab.github.io/goitein-notes/5C.2.1%20Mediterranean%20People_%20partnerships_%201-30/T-S%20NS%20J6_2%20%28PGPID%208703%29.pdf.

Recto/verso: verso

Section:

Verso: Letter in Arabic script. Probably related to the legal document on recto, since some of the same names appear. At the top the names Bishāra and ʿAllān b. Saʿīd appear. The letter mentions: someone's in-law Abū Isḥāq; Abū Saʿd al-Ḥalabī; collecting money from someone; Yūsuf; and various business reckonings and instructions. Concludes by mentioning a letter for Sayyidnā al-Rayyis al-Nāsī. Needs further examination.