Accounting in International Grain Trade: The Case of Nicolò Di Negro of Genoa, 1580s-1600s

This work stems from the analysis of the original accounting records of Nicolò di Negro, a Genoese grain trader operating as a commission agent in the second half of 16th century. It puts his accounting practice into its historical perspective and shows how an ancient “agency relationship” was translated into accounting terms. Primary sources demonstrate how accounting records do not automatically flow in a financial statement and provide evidence of a mix of cash and accrual accounting. We interpret this approach as functional to Nicolò’s objective of proving his reliability and trading capacity to his principal.