American Trading Houses’ Activities in Mashhad in the Late Qajar Period

Mashhad as the capital of Khorasan province in Qajar period held a high status in terms of economic and commercial issues, so that the city can be considered a big port in the northeast of Iran for goods import and export. Considering the great commercial capacity of Mashhad, some American trading houses and companies that were active in importing American products and exporting goods from Iran, settled in Mashhad. Focusing on new discovered documents, this descriptive-analytical study sought to see what American trading houses entered in Mashhad trade market in the late Qajar dynasty and which goods they traded in Mashhad. Taking into account the lack of resources and taking a detailed approach, the findings showed that most important American trading houses and companies active in Mashhad were Shargh Carpet Company, Tavshanchian Carpet Company, Gharehgazian Company, and Singer Corporation. Examining the commercial status of Mashhad, the companies imported various kinds of fabrics, sewing accessories, sewing machines and other kinds of machines into Mashhad, and exported such goods as carpets, dried fruit, opium, animals’ guts, wool, cotton, and tragacanth to America. Most of the exports were raw materials.