Platinum: Unloved and Forlorn

Hanau: G. Siebert, 1904. Stapled black paper wrappers; 38, [2]pp. Embossed on the cover: ​“Platin” ​“G. Siebert” along with 8 coins — all printed in platinum color in striking contrast to the black paper. Printed by Lechleder and Stroh. Sales catalogue of platinum products. In German. Lavishly illustrated throughout with both base platinum products such as wire and foil, but also a wide variety of laboratory instruments made entirely of platinum. Very good, covers lightly rubbed. Several interior stamps of the previous owner: ​“L. Kornblüh. Wien”. In 1881, Wilhelm Siebert established the Platinschmelze G. Siebert OHG (general partnership), initially producing cigar boxes and molds. This evolved in 1885 into a platinum refinery for the chemical and jewelry business. By 1906 Degussa (a household name in the German gold business) became a silent partner, completely absorbing G. Siebert by the 1970s. Platinum is 30 times more rare than gold. Annual mining is approximately 133 tons to 1,800 tons of gold. Exceedingly few companies dedicate their operations to platinum. Rarely written about, it occupies a hyper-niche of the precious metals world (that is, outside of Japan where over 90% of engagement rings are Platinum). Sales catalogues exclusively on platinum are as scarce as the metal itself. At the time of cataloguing, no other copies for sale, nor were we able to find a record of this item in OCLC or KVK.