Extraordinary Popular Delusions And The Madness Of Crowds
By Charles MacKay, 1841
The entire text is available online...
litrix.com
Here is an excerpt from the chapter on Tulipomania...
A tulip of the species called Admiral Liefken, weighing 400
perits, was worth 4400 florins; an Admiral Von der Eyk, weighing 446 perits, was worth 1260 florins;
a shilder of 106 perits was worth 1615 florins; a viceroy of 400 perits, 3000 florins, and, most
precious of all, a Semper Augustus, weighing 200 perits, was thought to be very cheap at 5500 florins.
The latter was much sought after, and even an inferior bulb might command a price of 2000 florins. It
is related that, at one time, early in 1636, there were only two roots of this description to be had in all
Holland, and those not of the best. One was in the possession of a dealer in Amsterdam, and the other
in Harlaem. So anxious were the speculators to obtain them that one person offered the fee-simple of
twelve acres of building ground for the Harlaem tulip. That of Amsterdam was bought for 4600
florins, a new carriage, two grey horses, and a complete suit of harness.
Munting, an industrious
author of that day, who wrote a folio volume of one thousand pages upon the tulipomania, has
preserved the following list of the various articles, and their value, which were delivered for one single
root of the rare species called the viceroy :-- florins. Two lasts of wheat.............. 448 Four lasts of
rye............... 558 Four fat oxen................... 480 Eight fat swine................. 240 Twelve fat
sheep................ 120 Two hogsheads of wine........... 70 Four tuns of beer............... 32 Two tons of
butter.............. 192 One thousand lbs. of cheese..... 120 A complete bed.................. 100 A suit of
clothes............... 8O A silver drinking cup........... 6O ----- 2500 ----- |
