Sales of imported goods in the fairs of Simbirsk province in the first half of the 19th century

The article is devoted to the features of sale of imported goods at the leading fairs of the Simbirsk province during the 19th century. The author concentrates on the characteristics of the assortment of goods, their supply channels, the social composition of merchants, pricing policy, and the peculiarities of organizing fair trade in different settlements of the province. The central position in the system for the sale of imported goods in the Middle Volga belonged to the Simbirsk Sbornaia (Collecting) Fair. The author reveals the reasons for strengthening the position of the fair in the provincial center, as well as the weakening of the Karsun Troitskaia (Trinity) Fair. Particular attention is paid to the problems of pricing policy, the reasons for increase and decrease in prices for imported goods, as well as to the analysis of changes in the structure of import trade by the middle of the 19th century.