The manual books and ledger of the treasure of the sacristy of the Cathedral of Valencia

an adaptation of double entry bookkeeping (1546-1555)

Abstract

This paper analyzes two accounts books: a manual and a ledge, used to record the transactions of cash deposited in the safe of the Cathedral of Valencia. Following to de Roover, the mere existence of a manual and a ledge is not enough to affirm its belonging to the double entry bookkeeping system. So it was necessary to review all the characteristic elements of this method and compare with those books.

Also, it is an aim to know the reasons that led to the recording mode used, pretending to know the nature of the information that this system brought and why some rules about double entry bookkeeping were not appreciated. The accounting system took the advantages of the accounting method introducing several innovations such as adjusting entries only in the general ledger, a double accounting entry opening and the incorporation, prior to the opening, of the detail of all transactions that, resulting from the adjustments in the previous books, led to the opening balance.

The study allows us to infer the economic conception that the council had of its organization and the role that the accounting system played within the organization since the information was internal and confidential.