In 1593 the botanicus Carolus Clusius received a handful of tulip bulbs from a Flemish nobleman, who himself received them from the Ottoman sultan Süleyman. Clusius was the leader of the Hortus Botanicus in Leiden and planted the bulbs there. One night the tulip bulbs were stolen from the Hortus Botanicus, this was one of the reasons that several years later collecting tulips became a real rage. In 1600 the prices of tulip bulbs began to increase rapidly, until in 1636 the price for a single bulb was 6000 guilders, as much as 2 cartloads of wheat, 4 cartloads of rye, 4 fat oxen, 8 fat pigs, 12 fat sheep, 2 barrels of wine, 4 barrels of beer, 2 tons of butter, 1,000 pounds of cheese, a bed, a silver chalice, a number of garments plus a ship to transport this all. This period is called the Tulip Mania. We have made a selection for you out of our most beautiful single flowered tulips with a spreaded flowering period, a great start for a tulip collector. In this mix are many different colours, you will discover at least 12 different varieties and maybe more. These tulips are excellent for cutting and to make a stunning bouquet. Imagine a full vase of these beauties, that must have been worth a lot in 1636...... |
