Books by Nancy Cox

This book explores the meanings assigned to goods sold retail from 1550 to 1820 and how their labels were understood. The first half of the book focuses on mercantile language more broadly; how it was used in trade and how lexicographers approached new vocabularies. In the second half, the author turns to the goods themselves.

Talks about how people perceived retailing in the early-modern period, both as it were as onlookers, artists and commentators, and as participants. Centred around the general theme of perceptions, this book addresses looks at a different aspect of consumption.

Based on extensive research into diverse trade sources, this work takes issue with the resilient stereotype of the "dull" and "out of date" shopkeeper of the early modern period. The author shows that the retailing sector was, in fact, well adapted to the social and economic needs of the day.