Amsterdam

1741 · réf. ABC_50545 — Amsterdam 1741. Hendrik Boussière Tipped into a passe-partout. A long sheet ca. 40.5 x 14.5 cm printed on two sides with the woodcut coat of arms of Amsterdam at the head. 2 pp. Exceptionally rare issue of a commodity price current for the Amsterdam market providing merchants with up-to-date market prices for a wide range of goods. This publication was issued every Monday from 1609 onward although comparable price lists are known to have circulated as early as 1585. To regulate the market the guilds of merchants and traders were required to publish standardised price information on a weekly basis. These lists were submitted to the authorities such as the mayor sheriff and aldermen as well as to subscribers but could also be purchased at the stock exchange. They were especially popular among foreign merchants.The present issue dated 13 February 1741 provides a detailed overview of contemporary market prices across a wide range of commodities. These include herbs and spices sugar materials for paint production pharmaceutical goods salt metals and munitions flax and hemp animal skins pitch and tar fish oils tobacco honey and wax as well as various textiles including silks cottons and woollens. It further records prices for butter wines grains and seeds. The list concludes with exchange rates for several currencies. Ephemeral by nature and often discarded after use these publications are now very scarce. We have only been able to trace one other copy of the present issue.The work has been folded in the past the bottom margin has been cut somewhat short with some loss of text. Otherwise in very good condition.l Internationaal Instituut voor Sociale Geschiedenis PM 405 1 copy; Wittop Koning Geschiedenis van de Pharmacie in Nederland figure 78 this copy; cf. W.P. Sautijn Kluit "De Amsterdamsche prijs-courantiers in de 17e en 18e eeuw" in: R. Fruin red. Bijdragen voor vaderlandsche geschiedenis en oudheidkunde Nieuwe Reeks deel 8 1875 p. 58-66; STCN 427437431 1 copy other issue from the same year; Wittop Koning p. 82. unknown