exchange rates at the end of the Bourbon Restoration

A rare chart giving the currency exchange rates for 60 cities and 36 countries across the world at the end of the Bourbon Restoration. Illustrated with engravings of the relevant coins by Charpentier, and text by Picquet giving information on the gold and silver composition of the various currencies, and summarising the value in French francs of each nation's coins.

'The Intrinsic Par is the currency value of a country which is compared to the one of another country, from the point of view of weight and security. The Commercial Par is the comparative value of the currencies of different countries, from the point of view of the weight, security, and the price of pure metals at the Stock Market. Thus, 2 sums of money from different countries are intrinsically at par when they have an equal quantity of the same type of pure metal. 2 sums of money from different countries are commercially at par, when they can buy an equal quantity of the same type of pure metal. This par had several denominations which seem to express its floating and ephemeral nature, but, the word "Commercial" is preferred. The exchange rate is the variable price of the currency of a country that we pay with a set sum of currency of another country. One is called: "Uncertain" and the other "Certain" (KELLY). The unity of 100, taken as the basis of all the exchanges, thus, should you know in Geneva... how much 100 is valued in Paris, Amsterdam, Basle and Berlin, the answer is the first 4 numbers of the line' [translated from the French].

Large folding engraved chart mounted on linen (65 x 101 cm), with hand-colouring, edged in blue silk; text in French by Picquet, engravings by Charpentier; housed in original marbled slipcase, red label lettered in gilt (chipped).