Colombia, 1836

1836: Estimated Colombian platina yield ~ 1,479 - 1,774.8 Ozt.
460 Grammes = 1 Libra = 46 Kilograms = 1,479 Ozt.


Choco Gold, according to information provided to me about it by Boussingault, contains an average of 5% Platinum, and as the gold minted at Popayan comes from Choco washings, this results in adding to the amount that is provided there each year, one-fifth the value of that exported by smuggling, we will have, in taking 5%, very roughly approximate the amount of platinum provided by the platina ores of Choco, which can be evaluated at 10 or 12 quintals. Anyway, you can wear at least double platinum supplied by Russia, the quantity produced by different parts of America, that amount will increase with the more general use of this metal, who will find over the care of exploiters.

USA, 1836: Brown's Iridium-tipped Gold Pens (NYC)

1836: 1 Ozt. Platinum (UK: Semi-Mfg, Trade)  = £ 1.20 (USD$ 5.83)  
1836: 1 Ozt. Platinum (UK: Mfg, Trade)  = £ 1.75 (USD$ 8.51)

1836: 1 Ozt. Platinum (USA: UK Mfg, Ret.)  = £ 3.60 (USD$ 17.50)
 
1834:  Hawkins' Iridosmine tipped nibs first (wholesaled?) in London = £ 1.05 (USD$ 4.34) 


1836: 1 Iridium-Tipped Gold Pen (London: Retail)  = £ 1.00 (USD$ 4.86)

1836/7: Iridosmine tipped nibs (UK-Mfg) first retailed in New York = USD$ 10.

1849: Brown's Gold Pens, w/o Iridium (wholesaled?) in New York = USD$ 2. 

1849:

Germany, 1836

 

1835: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (Germany: Semi-Mfg) ~Thlr. 11. (USD$ 7.74)
 
Citation: Universal-Lexikon der Handelswissenschaften: enthaltend: die Münz-, Maß- und ... August Schiebe (1838) p. 612


Alloy pins for Artificial Teeth: 40% Pt/ 60% Ag
Alloy springs for Artificial Teeth: 31.25% Pd, 31.25% Ag, 31.25% Cu, 6.25% Fe

Citation: Magazin der neuesten Erfindungen, Entdeckungen und Verbesserungen; Vol. 4 (1837) p.92

 
Where 1 Loth = 14.615 g.,

1836/7: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (Germany: Ore?, Retail) = Thlr. 10.64 (USD$ 7.82)
1836/7: 1 Ozt. Platinum (Germany: Intrinsic, Retail) = Thlr. 11.70 (USD$ 8.60)   
1836/7: 1 Ozt. Platinum (Germany: Mfg, Ret.) ~ Thlr. 13.83 (USD$ 10.17)
1836/7: 1 Ozt. Platinum (Hypothetical Import COST, Ger. Mfg, Ret.) ~ USD$ 9.50
 
{Unmanufactured?} platinum now costs Thlr. 5 to 5.5 per Loth; in the apparatus-form, in proportion to the work.  All Platinum apparatus can now be purchased not only in Paris but from many other places, especially in Berlin from G. Stoffauer or Luhme; in Frankfurt from Joh. Val. Albert; in Leipzig from Lampe or Sellier; in Göttingen from Apel; but the last apparatus are of bad platinum and are not highly praised.

Citation: Das Hauslexikon: vollständiges handbuch praktischer, Vol. 6 (1837) p.496



Stuttgart c. 1836: Retail Platinum cost half the price of Gold, in jewelry, etc.  


Platinum or White Gold in the middle. Platinum ranges between silver-white or steel gray, it is still difficult and worth half as much {as Gold.}

Citation: Schul-Kalender: ein Normal-Handbuch für Volksschullehrer, Vol. 1 (1837)


Platinum in German dentistry, 1836:



German estimation of Russian mineral production, c. 1836:

Where Gold was estimated Thlr. 230 per Mark; Platinum Thlr. 79.95 per Mark; Silver Thlr. 14.664

Citation: Universal-Lexikon der Handelswissenschaften: Enthaltend: die Münz- ... ;  August Schiebe (1837)
 
Specific Gravity of Platinum  types, Silver Coin:


 

UK, 1836: W. & S. Jones Catalogue

With identical prices to the 1831 Catalogue.

Catalogue of optical, mathematical, and philosophical instruments, made and sold by W. and S. Jones, (30) Lower Holborn, London (1836):

p.14: "Of Platina: Small retorts, crucibles, dishes, spoons, forecepts, thin rolled foil, wire, &c. per oz. 24s. to 1l. 15s."

1836: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (Semi-Mfg, Trade)  = £ 1.20 (USD$ 5.83)
1836: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (Mfg, Trade)  = £ 1.75 (USD$ 8.51)

Although offering Platinum in ingot, in Wire, Crucibles, &ct. Catalogue of optical, mathematical, and philosophical instruments, made and sold by W. Cary, 181 Strand, near Norfolk Street, London (1836) does not list any Platinum price "per oz."  "Platinum Plates" are likewise listed but not priced; otherwise, incidental manufactures as with Watkins & Hill.


p. 22 "Blowpipe Spoons of Silver or Platinum, from [£ 0.2] to [£ 0.48]"

"Double Steel Forceps, with Platinum Tips at one end, hardened points the other......  [£ 0.38]" 

The retail price of Fine Silver, adjusted to Intrinsic, was ~43.33% higher than market

2/1836: 1 Troy Ounce Silver (London Silverware .925) = £ 0.25
2/1836: 1 Troy Oz. Silver (Intrinsic .999) = £ 0.2703
2/1836: 1 Troy Oz. Silver (Intrinsic .999) = £ 0.3874
2/1836: 1 Troy Oz. Silver (London Silverware .925) = £ 0.3583
2/1836: 1 Troy Oz. Silver (Intrinsic .999) = £ 0.3874



 

Davy's Catalogue (October 1835; September 1835 price-quotes) sold platina wholesale-retail at 40% mark-up over the importers' market price.

1836: 1 Ozt. Osmium (Refined: Retail) = £ 48. (USD$ 231.20)
1836: 1 Ozt. Iridium (Refined: Ret.) = £ 36. (USD$ 173.40)
1836: 1 Ozt. Iridosmine (Ore, Lowest Quality: Ret.) = £ 3.20 (USD$ 15.41)

1836: 1 Iridium-Tipped Gold Pen (London: Retail)  = £ 1.00 (USD$ 4.82)

New Orleans, La., April 8th, 1875.
John Foley, Esq., New York,
Dear Sir : -- I received yours of March 23d yesterday.
The secret and instructions for making the Gold Pen were purchased by me from the inventor, Mr. Hawkins, for £300, in the spring of 1836. I learned to make the Pen, and sold a few in London before I left at £1 each. The gold was tempered by the hammer and the points put on with a blow pipe and ground with sharp emery. Four Pens were all that a good workman could finish in one day. I returned to New York in the fall, and by Mr. Hyde's request, taught Mr. Levi Brown how to make the Pen in October, 1836. I made but one or two Pens in doing so. I had no interest in the matter except to make the purchase for Mr. Hyde, learn the process of  making, and teach any one he might designate.
Yours respectfully,
Aaron Porter Cleveland. {pp 66, 68} 

1849: 1 Ozt. Osmiridium (Ore, Retail) = £ 1.25 (USD$ 6.0) 
1849: 1 Iridium-Tipped Gold Pen (London: Retail) = £ 0.525 (USD$ 2.55)

France, 1836: Platinum Price Drops, 1826-35

1836: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (London: Semi-Mfg, Retail)  = Fr 30.72 (£ 1.20)

In 1835, the official price of Platinum and many manufactured goods was far above the market price: Platinum (Fr 24./oz.) was worth one-third it's official rate (Fr 93./oz) in 1826.

It's not at all clear the tariffed 'official rate' was ever the market price; that rate is probably superfluous to the price history.

1836: 1 Troy Ounce Platinum (Intrinsic) ~ Fr 24.88 (USD$ 4.69)
1836: 1 Troy Oz. Palladium (mkt) ~ Fr 248.83 (USD$ 46.95) 
 
Citation: Le Magasin pittoresque, Vol. 4 (1836) p. 165  

1835: 1 Troy Ounce Platinum  = Fr 29.55 - 31.10 (USD$ 5.65 - 5.94)

Citation: Revue mensuelle d'économie politique, Volumes 4-5  Ed. Théodore Fix (1835), pp. 441-3

c.1833: The Russian labor rate was Fr 1.80 (USD$ 0.34) but the quality of SPB ingots was poor and required secondary refinement.

Importation, 1836:

Citation: Dictionnaire du commerce et des marchandises, Vol. 2;  Antoine Andraud (1852) p.1207

Citation: Allgemeines Organ für Handel und Gewerbe und damit verwandte ..., Vol. 2 (1836) p.210

France, 1835: Difficult Period for Platinum Valuation

1835: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (UK: Semi-Mfg, Retail) = Fr. 40.72 (£ 1.60)

Nov. 1835: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (Dental Alloy?, Trade) = Fr 26.43 (USD$ 5.05) 

Apparently, sons of the Royal Surgeon-Dentist Antoine-Malagou Desirabode were selling dental Platinum to the trade, c. 1835

Citation: Allgemeine Zeitung München (11/20/1835)




The Platinum price was in flux, with widely varying quotations & estimations.  Conrad Malte-Brun was citing Fr 24.57 (for Russian aggregate production) as late as 1835, a time when others noted the Russian ingot price collapse.  It appears the Russian ingot price collapsed -50% at some point between 1824 - 1825 (Fr 30.48 > Fr 15.25 - 16.25) on the French market; it's likely this was in 1825.

Some sources also appear to have republished old data indescriminately. 

The coin value of the Platinum Rouble greatly exceeded the Paper Rouble-Franc parity (1:1) or the estimated Silver Rouble Rate (3:1), by 30%.

c.1830: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (Platinum Rouble, coined) = Fr 36.06 (USD$ 6.90) 

Citation: Abrégé de géographie, By Adriano Balbi (1833), p.1318







c. 1833/4?: 1 Troy Ounce Platinum  = Fr 24. ($ 4.49) --- Suspect republishing ---

Citation: Nouveaux éléments d'histoire naturelle: contenant la zoologie, la botanique ... By Antoine-Paulin-Germain Salacroux (1835) p.893


1835: 1 Troy Ounce Platinum  = Fr 31.10 ($ 5.94)
1831: Tariffed Rate  for 4 year Holding Period = Fr 93.43


Citation: Journal des conseillers municipaux, des conseillers d ..., Vol. 2 (1835) p.95



Citation: Revue mensuelle d'économie politique, Vol. 4-5; Edit. by Théodore Fix (1835) p.441


c. 1836: 1 Troy Ounce platina  = Fr 7.47 - 12.94 ($ 1.43 - 2.47)
c. 1836: 1 Troy Ounce Platinum  = Fr 29.55 - 31.10 ($ 5.65 - 5.94)

Citation: Dictionnaire de la conversation et de la lecture: Pic - Por, Volume 44 (1838) p. 229


Lightning-Rod tip: Fr. 18. - 20. ($ 3.45 - 3.83) 

c. 1834/5:
 



1835 : French imports of platina = 



Citation: Dictionnaire pittorosque d'histoire naturelle et des phénomènes de la nature ... Félix-Edouard Guérin-Méneville (1837) p.227

1836: 1 Troy Ounce Platinum  = Fr 31.10 ($ 5.94)

Circa 1835? 10-Gallon Platinum alembic cost £ 1,000. (~Fr 25,000.)

Where the Gros (4 Grammes) was 61.73 English Troy Grains, or ~1/10th an English Troy Ounce:

c. Dec. 1825: 1 Ozt. Iridium (Paris: Retail) ~ Fr 466.55 ($ 87.37)

c. Apr. 1836: 1 Ozt. Iridium (SPb: Mint) = 43.7487 руб Acc. ($ 9.5236; )

As reported from St. Petersburg 4/20/1836:

"Sent to Paris, Iridium excited admiration in French scholars and artists, and in Paris they initially paid the high price per drachma of Iridium Fr 60; but even more so the rarity of Iridium was until now solely to blame that this useful metal to find few applications.  The Imperial Finance Minister, Count Cancrin, has now enacted to bring the accumulated stocks of laboratory Iridium and all unrefined residues obtained during the cleaning of Platinum to market at reasonable prices. Consequently, refined Iridium is to be sold at 6 rubles ($1.31) per Zolotnik, the unrefined residues at just 1 Rubel Bco. Ass. here. those who want to buy these items must appeal to the Supreme Sobolewskij"  

Citation: Gemeinnützige Blätter. (5/5/1836) p.292

c.1835:

By estimation of the Russian Rouble metal ratios, coined Platinum was simply 3x the Silver Rouble value in Francs; ergo, 3-Roubles (Pt) = 12 Fr. 

The French market price for refined Platinum was considerably lower than the Rouble rate, suggesting at least the lucrative potential for counterfeit coinage (however unlikely, given supply constraints.)  The official, intrinsic monetized rate (10.36g at .950, 3-Rouble Coin)  per Troy Ounce is determined accordingly.

c.1840: 1 Troy Ounce Platinum (semi-mfg, mkt)  = Fr 28.44  (USD$ 5.50)

1840: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum Estimation (intrinsic Coin Rouble)  = Fr 37.92 (USD$  )

Although the UK market price was lower, the UK retail price for Pt was the same as this foreign exchange valuation.

1840: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum Estimation (intrinsic Coin Rouble)  = £ 1.50 (USD$  7.50)

1835 Importation:


Citation: Dictionnaire universel des poids et mesures anciens et modernes...Horace DOURSTHER (1841) p.306

 


 Dubious valuation, c. 1835?

  

UK, 1825 - 1837 : Griffin's Catalogue Prices

1836/7: 1 Troy Ounce Platinum (mfg, retail)  = £ 1.25 - 2.40  (USD$  6.06 -  11.64)

In Wollaston's time, Platinum manufacture remained largely an artisanal trade: either as an ornamental metal or material for major industrial enterprises (producers of suphuric acid.)  That began to change in the 1830s, as one important early Platinum industry developed a consumer market.

Platinum crucibles and simple manufactures were relatively rare & expensive prior to the mid-1830s.  Thereafter, with increasing retail demand, manufacturers &; suppliers of chemical apparatus became the most significant consumers of refined Platinum.

In the modern sense, a truly global market for refined Platinum first appeared in early editions of chemistry textbooks.  For example, John Griffin of Glasgow produced a chemistry textbook of experiments in [the early 1820s]; subsequent editions carefully noted (recommended) prices for the tools & instruments shown.  As students & science classrooms of the finest schools requested these simple platinum manufactures, Griffin's textbooks began to illustrate a frankly promotional & commercial tendency.  By the late 1830's, Griffin (now, of London) had become a significant retailer of platinum manufactures and proudly advertised recommendations from Harvard University (in Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.)  Textbook editions after 1840 omit prices, but the global marketing of Platinum manufactures continued with descriptive supplements such as "Griffin's Scientific Circular" and better organized catalogue retailing (after 1861).

The Griffin catalogue expanded after 1861 and continued after J. Griffin's death in 1877 as "John J. Griffin & Sons," "Griffin and George" "Griffin & Tatlock Ltd."

Some of these items are truly minature:  the "platinum hemispherical cup" for 2 shillings and 5 shillings (in the 1837 Catalogue) likely weighed 20 grains and 65 grains, respectively.

Incidentally, the price (& presumed weight) for the same manufactures of these dimensions in the 1866 Catalogue is nearly identical.  Likewise, the platinum spoon prices are nearly the same in the 1837 & 1866 Catalogues (8-10 shillings and 7 shillings)  and the 1' diameter platinum capsule prices (for items of slightly different weights) are closely approximate.

The retail price for manufactured platinum goods is presumed consistent in the Griffin Catalogues of 1837 & 1866. 

With scant mention in earlier Griffin texts, there isn't enough price/weight information to reasonably estimate price per troy ounce prior to 1836/7.
 

1824:  
Citation: 3rd & 5th Editions: Chemical recreations: a series of amusing and instructive experiments, which ... By John Joseph Griffin (1825)

 

1833:
Citation: 7th  Edition: Chemical recreations: a series of amusing and instructive experiments, which ... By John Joseph Griffin (1834) 

1837:

Citation: 8th  Edition: Chemical recreations: a compendium of experimental chemistry By John Joseph Griffin (1838)
 

 

USD-Pound Exchange, 1837: