USA, 1852: Chemists' Catalogues (McAllister & Bros; Bullock & Crenshaw)

1852: 1 Troy Oz. platina (California: ore, intrinsic) = $ 5.00 
1852: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (refined? whols.) = $ 10.00

1852: 1 Troy Ounce platina (ore, retail) = USD $ 8.

1853: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (UK: Semi-Mfg, Ret.) = USD$ 6.81 (£ 1.40) 


1852: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (Semi-Mfg., Retail) = $ 14.40
1853: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (Semi-Mfg., Ret.) = $ 14.40
  
1853: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (Semi-Mfg., est. Import) ~ $ 7.

1855: 1 Troy Ounce of Platinum (Manufactured, Retail) = $ 14.40

Dr. John B. Trask's Geology of the California Range (1853) probably indicated retail prices for platina on the Eastern Seaboard.

 

Successors (1849) to the Smith & Hodgson apothecary business at Sixth and Arch streets in Philadelphia, May 1852 prices : 

1852: 1 Ozt. Platinum (Sponge: Refined, Retail) = USD $ 12.
1852: 1 Ozt. Platinum (Mfg, Retail) = USD $ 14.40  
  
1852: 1 Ozt. Iridium (Refined, Retail) = USD $ 62.40 
 
Citation: Catalogue of Chemicals and Chemical Wares, Imported Manufactured and For Sale by Bullock & Crenshaw, 1852, p.10, 13,  
 





1852: Oertling Balance, imported from Berlin: USD$ 95.
 



1852: Greiner's Hydrometer, imported from Berlin: USD$ 3.25
 


US East Coast Import Wholesale/Retail was at least 25% higher than German (Frankfurt) Retail.

1852: 1 Ozt. Platinum (Erfurt, Ger: Wire, Whols/Ret.) = USD$ 9.13 (Thlr 12.77)
1852: 1 Ozt. Platinum (Erfurt, Ger: Mfg, Whols/Ret.) = USD$ 11.41 (Thlr 15.96) 

1852: 1 Ozt. Platinum (Sponge: Refined, Whols/Ret.) = USD $ 12.
1852: 1 Ozt. Platinum (Semi-Mfg, Whols/Ret.) = USD $ 14.40 
1852: 1 Ozt. Platinum (Mfg, Whols/Ret.) = USD $ 14.40 

Citation: Descriptive catalogue of chemical apparatus, chemicals and pure reagents (1852 Bullock & Crenshaw, p. 28 ,42)

In Jones, White & McCurdy's  Catalogue of dentists' materials, consisting of porcelain teeth, gold and tin foils, gold and silver plate, dental instruments, corundum wheels, and all other articles used by the dental profession (Phila., 1853?)

p.15 "Sponge Platina per dwt. 63 [cents]"  @ USD$ 12.60/oz

1853: 1 Troy Ounce of Platinum (sponge, intrinsic, whols.) = $ 12. - 12.60
1853: 1 Troy Ounce of Platinum (US producer, est) ~ $ 6.

1853: 1 Troy Ounce of Platinum (semi-mfg., whols.) ~ $ 15.12

No specific mention of platina or platinum for sale in Davis’s descriptive catalogue of apparatus and experiments to illustrate the following branches of science : namely, galvanism, electro-magnetism, electro-dynamics, magneto-electricity, magnetism, thermo-electricity, by Daniel Davis, Jr. (Boston: Marden & Kimball, 1838.) The 1842 Catalogue offers no Platinum either. However, his 1852 Catalogue of apparatus to illustrate magnetism, galvanism, electro-dynamics, electro-magnetism, magneto-electricity, and thermo-electricity... by Daniel Davis, Jr. (Boston: s.n., 1852)  lists "Platinum Wire & Foil" and "Platinum Slips for Grove's Batteries" but without prices on Page 46.  Otherwise, his (platinum) battery prices seem marginally higher than the competition in Philadelphia.

Fig. 17 (p.8)  Grove's Battery (single) $2.

Fig. 18 (p.9)  Grove's Battery (in a Box, per pair) $1.50, $2., $2.50

Fig. 110 (p. 21) Grove's Battery (covered) $6. to 8.  

1851- : Manufactured Platinum duty; unmanufactured Platinum not tariffed.

 

1854: Dr. John Lewis moved to Buffalo in 1844 or 1847. Platinum difficult or costly to procure in Buffalo NY, c. 1844-53, and unfamiliar to older dentists.

Iridium, mislabeled "Rhodium."


1852? : 1 Troy Ounce Iridium (Wholesale: "Best" Ore) = USD$ 120. 

Citation: Hunt's merchants' magazine and commercial review, Vol. 30; Isaac Smith Homans (Feb. 1853) p.249

Uncertain date for a High.  This may be a confusion: Osmium was cited in NY catalogues in the mid-1850s at this rate, but Rhodium at half the price ($120.)

1855??? : 1 Ozt. Iridium (Erroneous Guess?) = USD$  242. ; ~Fr 1,250. 

Citation: Journal de Pharmacie et de Chimie (1858) p.222

c. 1855: Odd lots of best-quality Rhodium granules, "$120./oz."

c.1853:




Strange report