We study slave prices in four localities of the Vale do Paraíba (São Paulo) based on a comparison of two distinct primary sources in the period 1872-1874. For Cruzeiro and Lorena, we used the Lista de Classificação para Emancipação. For Guaratinguetá and Silveiras, we used the escrituras de compra e venda de cativos. The similarities and differences found reflected the characteristics of each source. The escrituras give the slave prices nearest of the market values; nevertheless, they do not encompass the slave population as a whole. On the other hand, the Lista de Classificação bring the information for almost the totality of the slaves, but is less accurate in the individual evaluations.
slave prices; slavery; coffee economy
