With the large Tulpenmanie (also Tulipomanie, tulip illusion or tulip hysteria) in Holland in 17. Century tulip bulbs became the object of speculation.

Tulips originally originate from the asiatic area, where they are considered traditionally as a favourite flower of the Sultane. From there from arrived it around 1560 for the first time of Konstantinopel (today Istanbul) to Vienna. Their introduction introduces the so-called eastern period, to which beside tulips also hyacinths and narcissuses were introduced in the history of the garden architecture. Were however particularly the tulips, which garden-interested fascinated.

The Botaniker Carolus Clusius, director/conductor of the imperial Botani garden in Vienna, could much for the exotic plant become enthusiastic and let it saw the tulips in the consequence of a well-known nobleman import. Clusius cultivate the the tulip on European soil for the first time 1573 in large of style, by he let cultivate 1,500 the of the import seed in the Botanischen garden emperor Maximiliams II. When Clusius left 1593 Austria and accepted a place as a professor for Botanik in suffering, he inserted him the so fascinating tulip plants also in the Netherlands. The strange flower fascinated many citizens and became soon the status symbol. The tulip carried splendour gardens developed after Italian model, the female Oberschicht to social causes as decoration in the hair or at the bosom and many artists pulled into the Netherlands, the economical center at that time of Europe.

Already soon always new tulip sorts were bred. A mosaic virus helped the breeders unknowingly, as scientists found 1924 out. This virus produced examined petals and by sheet lice was transferred. When the demand for tulip bulbs exceeded the offer, the prices rose strongly. Tulip bulbs were auctioneered already soon on auctions and to a popular thief property. The trade took place less at the stock exchange, but more in the taverns and pubs, which were extremely numerous at time at that time. Here the salesman had the possibility of an auction or however both sides wrote its price desire on a note and two negotiators selected in each case agreed then on a price. All of this happened in alkoholisierter tavern atmosphere. Besides the buyer came for feeds, drink and tobacco of the salesman up.

First the bulbs were acted only during the planting time. Since the demand expanded however all year round, also such bulbs were sold later, which were still in the earth. As consequence the tulip trade became the speculative transaction, since nobody knew, how the tulip would look real. For the purpose pictures in order were given to the illustration, how they should look later. Precious paintings developed during this time particularly in Utrecht, which was for approximately 400 painters of Europe point of attraction at that time.

Into the 1630er years estimated itself the development. Also Optionsscheine could be bought now on tulip bulb portions. The prices exploded and rose from 1634 to 1637 to over 50-Fache. In Amsterdam a complete house for three tulip bulbs was sold. Many bulbs cost several thousand guldens, the highest price for the most valuable tulip sort, Semper Augustus, were to at the beginning of of 1637 about 10,000 guldens for only one bulb, at a time, when a Carpenter earned approximately 250 guldens in the year. The speculation had prospered to the speculation blister.

In January the prices had already more than doubled themselves. Still on 6 February 1637 with an auction by 100 tulip bulbs nearly 100,000 guldens were obtained, correspond today to approx. 10 millions euro. But then the end of the Tulpenmanie came on 7 February 1637. With the annual auction in Alkmaar it did not give any longer enough buyer. The prices fell over over 95 per cent. Many citizens lost their whole fortune, which they had invested in tulip bulbs. On 27 April from the Dutch government ordered that tulips are usual goods and were as such to treat, thus e.g. bar to be finally paid had.

Finally it is to be stated as strange thing that there is not the then most valuable tulip Semper Augustus today no more in the trade - with the mosaic virus struck tulips are destroyed today by the breeders, so that they do not stick on their entire existence.

Literature

• Anna Pavord: The tulip - a culture history, Frankfurt 2003.
• Mike Dash: Tulip illusion - the craziest speculation of history, Claasen publishing house, Munich 1999, ISBN 3-546-00177-X.
• Otto Rome brook: Adrian the tulip thief, DTV, Munich 1990, ISBN 342301329X (original: Dt. Verl. - Anst., 1948, ISBN B0000BMZJW).

Related links

• Virtual wealth - material poverty - the tulip speculation and an elbow into the present

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