Anglo-Jewish history. A fascinating insight into the business dealings of two of London's most prominent Jewish families. Arriving in England towards the end of the seventeenth century, the Mocattas quickly established a reputation as pre-eminent bullion dealers and stockbrokers, earning in 1710 one of the prized twelve licenses permitting 'Jew brokers' to do business on the royal exchange.

The collection mostly relates to the fourth-generation member Abraham Mocatta (1730-1800), who as exclusive broker in precious metals to the Bank of England played an important role in the recoinage of gold guineas between 1773-1777. Soon afterwards he entered into partnership with Asher Goldsmid, scion of the Ashkenazi family that arrived in England in 1763. Their brokerage in 'public stocks and securities gold silver diamonds and... other precious metals' was very successful, surviving independently for 287 years before finally merging with Hambros Bank in 1957. The Mocatta name itself lived on in ScotiaMocatta, a trading division of The Bank of Nova Scotia, until it too was dissolved in 2019.

Asher's son, Sir Isaac Lyon Goldsmid (1778-1859), was a leading figure in the Jewish emancipation movement and in 1841 became the first British Jew to be awarded a hereditary title.

Seven documents containing multiple vellum sheets (approx. 53 x 68 cm), occasional holes and light wear; (1) articles of copartnership for Abraham Mocatta and Asher Goldsmid dated 12th April 1787; (2) agreement dated 4th April 1791 appointing Abraham's son Moses Mocatta an agent of the copartnership; (3) articles dated 31st December 1792 appointing Moses a copartner; (4) articles dated 2nd September 1793 appointing Abraham's son Jacob Mocatta an agent; (5) articles appointing Jacob and Asher's son Isaac Lyon Goldsmid copartners dated 31st March 1800; (6) grant by letters patent of an equity of redemption dated 18th April 1812; and (7) deed between B.A. Goldmschmidt & Co. and their creditors dated 28th August 1826.

Hyamson (Jewish Historical Society of England), 1951-52; Wolton (Goldsmiths' Review), 1988–9.