Wool-stapler
Encyclopedia
A wool-stapler is a dealer in wool
. The wool-stapler buys wool from the producer, sorts and grades it, and sells it on to manufacturers.
The expression wool-stapler fell out of use during the 20th century, see the external link below. Staple in this particular context means a market.
Prior to the 17th century Staple
was also a particular type of market, "a place appointed by royal authority, in which a body of merchants had exclusive right of purchase of certain goods destined for export".
The now best known English staple was at Calais but in medieval times there were, at various times, many others throughout the kingdoms of England and Ireland and the facing coast of the Low Countries
all involved, though not exclusively, with the English wool trade.
The importance of wool to the English economy can be shown by the fact that since the 14th Century, the presiding officer of the House of Lords
has sat on the "Woolsack
", a chair stuffed with wool.
Wool
Wool is the textile fiber obtained from sheep and certain other animals, including cashmere from goats, mohair from goats, qiviut from muskoxen, vicuña, alpaca, camel from animals in the camel family, and angora from rabbits....
. The wool-stapler buys wool from the producer, sorts and grades it, and sells it on to manufacturers.
The expression wool-stapler fell out of use during the 20th century, see the external link below. Staple in this particular context means a market.
Prior to the 17th century Staple
The staple
The Staple in English historiography, refers to the entire medieval system of trade and its taxation. Under this system, the government or King required that all overseas trade in certain goods be transacted at specific designated market towns or ports, referred to as the 'staple ports'...
was also a particular type of market, "a place appointed by royal authority, in which a body of merchants had exclusive right of purchase of certain goods destined for export".
The now best known English staple was at Calais but in medieval times there were, at various times, many others throughout the kingdoms of England and Ireland and the facing coast of the Low Countries
Low Countries
The Low Countries are the historical lands around the low-lying delta of the Rhine, Scheldt, and Meuse rivers, including the modern countries of Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg and parts of northern France and western Germany....
all involved, though not exclusively, with the English wool trade.
The importance of wool to the English economy can be shown by the fact that since the 14th Century, the presiding officer of the House of Lords
House of Lords
The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster....
has sat on the "Woolsack
Woolsack
The Woolsack is the seat of the Lord Speaker in the House of Lords, the Upper House of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. From the Middle Ages until 2006, the presiding officer in the House of Lords was the Lord Chancellor and the Woolsack was usually mentioned in association with the office of...
", a chair stuffed with wool.