Havamal Snippets 41: Reciprocate gifts to kinsmen

It's Wednesday (Woden/Odin's Day) which means that it's time for another verse from the Havamal 'Sayings of the High One - Odin'. The poem full of wisdom, both everyday and ethereal. (The poem can be found in full HERE):

41. With arms and vestments
friends should each other gladden,
those which are in themselves most sightly.
Givers and requiters
are longest friends,
if all (else) goes well.

(Source: http://heathengods.com/havamal/thorpe.htm)

Reciprocate gifts to kinsmen, be those gifts material or immaterial. It will lead to long lasting friendships.


[End.]

Men of Yore: Vlad II, Prince of Wallachia

This is another in a series of posts about men from history who have either achieved great things in one form or another by pushing boundaries: either in themselves or in society or science or exploration of some form.  Boundary pushing and growth is what men do, it's their nature: to grow and push outwards.  We, as men, are the frontiersmen/the vanguard, the first to discover/uncover new territory, in a metaphysical sense (i.e. including both material and the immaterial) that is later colonised and 'civilised' by the rest of humanity. 

It is also partly intended to show images, be they paintings, statues or photographs of the countenances of men of yore.  Because, quite frankly, many men wear the countenances of women these days: smiling, smirking, cooing, rolling their eyes, looking smug etc.  It's a sign of the times, and by showing some images of men from the past, I hope to show some modern men why looking surly, frowning and giving hard-ball stares at people is something to do, something to practise.

Vlad III, Prince of Wallachia (A 1560 copy of a painting of Vlad III while he was alive).

Vlad III, Prince of Wallachia (1431–1476), was a member of the House of Drăculești, a branch of the House of Basarab, also known by his patronymic name: Dracula. He was posthumously dubbed Vlad the Impaler (Romanian: Vlad Țepeș pronounced [ˈvlad ˈt͡sepeʃ]), and was a three-time Voivode of Wallachia, ruling mainly from 1456 to 1462, the period of the incipient Ottoman conquest of the Balkans. His father, Vlad II Dracul, was a member of the Order of the Dragon, which was founded to protect Christianity in Eastern Europe. Vlad III is revered as a hero in Bulgaria as well for his protection of the Bulgarian population both south and north of the Danube. A significant number of Bulgarian common folk and remaining boyars (nobles) moved north of the Danube, recognized his leadership and became part of Wallachia, following his raids on the Ottomans. ^[3]
Vlad III spent much of his rule campaigning against the Ottoman Empire and its expansion.^[4] As the cognomen 'The Impaler' suggests, his practice of impaling his enemies^[5] is central to his historical reputation. During his lifetime, his reputation for excessive cruelty spread abroad, to Germany and elsewhere in Europe. The total number of his victims is estimated in the tens of thousands. The name of the vampire Count Dracula in Bram Stoker's 1897 novel Dracula was inspired by Vlad's patronymic.^[5]

[..]

Early life:

Vlad and Radu spent their early formative years in Sighișoara. During the first reign of their father, Vlad II Dracul, the Voivode brought his young sons to Târgoviște, the capital of Wallachia at that time.

The Byzantine chancellor Mikhail Doukas showed that, at Târgoviște, the sons of boyars and ruling princes were well-educated by Romanian or Greek scholars commissioned from Constantinople. Vlad is believed to have learned combat skills, geography, mathematics, science, languages (Old Church Slavonic, German, Latin), and the classical arts and philosophy.^[9]

[..]

Internal policy

Vlad found Wallachia in a wretched state: constant war had resulted in rampant crime, falling agricultural production, and the virtual disappearance of trade. Regarding a stable economy essential to resisting external enemies, he used severe methods to restore order and prosperity.
Vlad had three aims for Wallachia: to strengthen the country's economy, its defense, and his own political power. He took measures to help the peasants' well-being by building new villages and raising agricultural output. He understood the importance of trade for the development of Wallachia. He helped the Wallachian merchants by limiting foreign merchant trade to three market towns: Târgșor, Câmpulung and Târgoviște.
Vlad considered the boyars the chief cause of the constant strife as well as of the death of his father and brother. To secure his rule, he had many leading nobles killed and gave positions in his council, traditionally belonging to the greatest boyars, to persons of obscure origins, who would be loyal to him alone, and some to foreigners. [..]

War with the Ottomans

In 1459, Pope Pius II called for a new crusade against the Ottomans, at the Congress of Mantua. In this crusade, the main role was to be played by Matthias Corvinus, son of John Hunyadi (János Hunyadi), the King of Hungary. To this effect, Matthias Corvinus received from the Pope 40,000 golden coins, an amount that was thought to be enough to gather an army of 12,000 men and purchase 10 Danube warships. In this context, Vlad allied himself with Matthias Corvinus, with the hope of keeping the Ottomans out of the country (Wallachia was claimed as a part of the Ottoman Empire by Sultan Mehmed II).

[..]
Later that year, in 1459, Ottoman Sultan Mehmed II sent envoys to Vlad to urge him to pay a delayed tribute^[10] of 10,000 ducats and 500 recruits into the Ottoman forces. Vlad refused, because if he had paid the 'tribute', as the tax was called at the time, it would have meant a public acceptance of Wallachia as part of the Ottoman Empire. Vlad, just like most of his predecessors and successors, had as a primary goal to keep Wallachia as independent as possible. Vlad had the Turkish envoys killed on the pretext that they had refused to raise their "hats" to him, by nailing their turbans to their heads.
[..]
In the winter of 1462, Vlad crossed the Danube and devastated the entire Bulgarian land in the area between Serbia and the Black Sea. Disguising himself as a Turkish Sipahi, he infiltrated and destroyed Ottoman camps. In a letter to Corvinus dated 2 February, he wrote: ”I have killed peasants men and women, old and young, who lived at Oblucitza and Novoselo, where the Danube flows into the sea, up to Rahova, which is located near Chilia, from the lower Danube up to such places as Samovit and Ghighen. We killed 23,884 Turks without counting those whom we burned in homes or the Turks whose heads were cut by our soldiers...Thus, your highness, you must know that I have broken the peace with him (Sultan Mehmed II).^[14][17]

In response to this, Sultan Mehmed II raised an army of around 60,000 troops and 30,000 irregulars,^[18] and in spring of 1462 headed towards Wallachia. Commanding at best only 30,000 to 40,000 men (depending of the source),^{[citation needed]} Vlad was unable to stop the Ottomans from crossing the Danube on June 4, 1462 and entering Wallachia. He constantly organized small attacks and ambushes on the Turks, such as The Night Attack when 15,000 Turks were killed.

[..]

Vlad the Impaler's attack was celebrated by the Saxon cities of Transylvania, the Italian states and the Pope. A Venetian envoy, upon hearing about the news at the court of Corvinus on 4 March, expressed great joy and said that the whole of Christianity should celebrate Vlad Țepeș's successful campaign. The Genoese from Caffa also thanked Vlad, for his campaign had saved them from an attack of some 300 ships that the sultan planned to send against them.

[..]

It was reported that an invading Ottoman army turned back in fright when it encountered thousands of rotting corpses on the banks of the Danube.^[14] It has also been said that in 1462 Mehmed II, the conqueror of Constantinople, a man noted for his own psychological warfare tactics, returned to Constantinople after being sickened by the sight of 20,000 impaled corpses outside Vlad's capital of Târgoviște.

[..]

Defeat

Vlad III's defeat at Poenari was due in part to the fact that the Boyars, who had been alienated by Vlad's policy of undermining their authority, had joined Vlad’s younger brother Radu under the assurance that they would regain their privileges.

[C]ontinuous war had left him without any money and he could no longer pay his mercenaries. Vlad traveled to Hungary to ask for help from his former ally, Matthias Corvinus. Instead of receiving help, he found himself arrested and thrown into the dungeon for high treason.

^[..]

[T]he Wallachian prince was held for 10 years.

Third reign and death

After Radu's sudden death in 1475, Vlad III declared his third reign in 26 November 1476. Vlad began preparations for the reconquest of Wallachia in 1476 with Hungarian support. Vlad's third reign had lasted little more than two months when he was assassinated.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vlad_III_the_Impaler



Vlad III was another of the national heroes of the Balkans (with other such as Skanderbeg) of the medieval period who sometimes succeeded, sometimes failed, but always tried to defend themselves and their homelands.

There are several characteristics of Vlad that shine throughout his life: A love of independence and self-rule; A love of his homeland and his own people; A hatred of traitors to him and his homeland; Unrestrained actions, a ‘no holds barred’ attitude to keeping his homeland free.

This last sentiment echoes some of the words of Meister Echkart:
'Were I full of God I should care nothing whatever for the world. To respect the world shows want of self-respect. Self-respect betokens despisery of things..’

Respect God first, yourself second, and everything else third.




Check out some of the other entries from the 'Men of Yore' series:
Skanderbeg
King Alfred, the Great
John MacDouall Stuart
Robert Owen
Richard Trevithick
Wyatt Earp
William 'Wild Bill' Cody
Andrew Carnegie
Duke of Viseu (Henry the Navigator)
Meriwether Lewis
Arthur Schopenhauer
Theodore Roosevelt
Rudolph Diesel
John Snow
Ludwig van Beethoven
Henry Ford
George Custer


[End.]

Havamal Snippets 40: Enjoy it while you have it

It's Wednesday (Woden/Odin's Day) which means that it's time for another verse from the Havamal 'Sayings of the High One - Odin'. The poem full of wisdom, both everyday and ethereal. (The poem can be found in full HERE):

40. Of the property
which he has gained
no man should suffer need;
for the hated oft is spared
what for the dear was destined.
Much goes worse than is expected.

(Source: http://heathengods.com/havamal/thorpe.htm)

Enjoy it while you have it. 'Saving for a rainy day' only means that your effort was used to avoid deprivation.


[End.]

Havamal Snipets 39: Even generous men should accept rewards gladly

It's Wednesday (Woden/Odin's Day) which means that it's time for another verse from the Havamal 'Sayings of the High One - Odin'. The poem full of wisdom, both everyday and ethereal. (The poem can be found in full HERE):

39. I have never found a
man so bountiful,
or so hospitable
that he refused a present;
of his property
so liberal
that he scorned a recompense.

(Source: http://heathengods.com/havamal/thorpe.htm)

Even generous men should accept rewards gladly. If you were constantly giving all of the time and never reciving, then you would enter into a deficit. We are only finite beings after all.


[End.]

Men of Yore: Michael Collins

This is another in a series of posts about men from history who have either achieved great things in one form or another by pushing boundaries: either in themselves or in society or science or exploration of some form.  Boundary pushing and growth is what men do, it's their nature: to grow and push outwards.  We, as men, are the frontiersmen/the vanguard, the first to discover/uncover new territory, in a metaphysical sense (i.e. including both material and the immaterial) that is later colonised and 'civilised' by the rest of humanity. 

It is also partly intended to show images, be they paintings, statues or photographs of the countenances of men of yore.  Because, quite frankly, many men wear the countenances of women these days: smiling, smirking, cooing, rolling their eyes, looking smug etc.  It's a sign of the times, and by showing some images of men from the past, I hope to show some modern men why looking surly, frowning and giving hard-ball stares at people is something to do, something to practise.

Michael Collins, 1922 (aged 32)

Michael Collins (Irish: Mícheál Ó Coileáin;^[1] 16 October 1890 – 22 August 1922) was an Irish revolutionary leader, Minister for Finance and Teachta Dála (TD) for Cork South in the First Dáil of 1919, Director of Intelligence for the IRA, and member of the Irish delegation during the Anglo-Irish Treaty negotiations. Subsequently, he was both Chairman of the Provisional Government and Commander-in-chief of the National Army.^[2] Throughout this time, at least as of 1919, he was also President of the Irish Republican Brotherhood, and, therefore, under the bylaws of the Brotherhood, President of the Irish Republic. Collins was shot and killed in August 1922, during the Irish Civil War.
Although most Irish political parties recognise his contribution to the foundation of the modern Irish state, supporters of Fine Gael hold his memory in particular esteem, regarding him as their movement's founding father, through his link to their precursor Cumann na nGaedheal.
[..]
Collins was a bright and precocious child, with a fiery temper and a passionate feeling of nationalism. This was spurred on by a local blacksmith, James Santry, and later, at the Lisavaird National School by a local school headmaster, Denis Lyons, a member of the Irish Republican Brotherhood (IRB).
[..]
Michael Collins first became known during the Easter Rising in 1916. A skilled organiser of considerable intelligence, he was highly respected in the IRB, so much that he was made financial advisor to Count Plunkett father of one of the Rising's organisers,
[..]
While some celebrated the fact that [the Easter] rising had happened at all, believing in Pearse's theory of "blood sacrifice" (namely that the deaths of the Rising's leaders would inspire others), Collins railed against it,[..]with his soldiers operating as "flying columns" who waged a guerrilla war against the British, suddenly attacking, then just as quickly withdrawing, minimising losses and maximising effectiveness.)
[..]
Like all senior Sinn Féin members, in the 1918 general election Collins was elected as an Irish MP[.]
[..]
Collins created a special assassination unit called The Squad designed to kill British agents; arranged the "National Loan"; organised the IRA; effectively led the government when de Valera travelled to and remained in the United States for an extended period of time; and managed an arms-smuggling operation.
[..]
Outside of the War for Independence in Ireland, Michael Collins was also a lover and a bureaucrat. The public view of Michael Collins is of a militaristic person, however he was more of a paper pusher and orator than a military man.^[51] Many pictures of Collins were taken while he was in uniform. The picture of Collins in his full general's uniform is one of the most used and recognized pictures of him of all time. Behind the scenes of the war Collins was first, an administrator, Collins did not see any of the fighting from the time of the 1916 Easter Rising until the fire fight that ensued at his death/assassination.^[51] During the last five years of his life, Collins became very close with a woman by the name of Kitty Kiernan. Collins wrote back and forth with Kiernan for years, describing what he was doing and what was going on in the war effort.^[52] In later years, Collins shifts the tone of his letters to joy and love, he says in one particular letter "My thoughts just now are all with you, and you have every kind wish and feeling of mine."^[53] One of the later letters Kiernan sends to Collins points out the difference in opinions that they have. Kiernan was more interested in love and romance, where Collins was much more interested in talking politics.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Collins_(Irish_leader)




Check out some of the other entries from the 'Men of Yore' series:
Skanderbeg
King Alfred, the Great
John MacDouall Stuart
Richard Trevithick
Wyatt Earp
William 'Wild Bill' Cody
Andrew Carnegie
Duke of Viseu (Henry the Navigator)
Meriwether Lewis
Arthur Schopenhauer
Theodore Roosevelt
Rudolph Diesel
John Snow
Ludwig van Beethoven
Henry Ford
George Custer



[End.]

Havamal Snippets 38: Be on-guard when you are exposed

It's Wednesday (Woden/Odin's Day) which means that it's time for another verse from the Havamal 'Sayings of the High One - Odin'. The poem full of wisdom, both everyday and ethereal. (The poem can be found in full HERE):

38. Leaving in the field his arms,
let no man go
a foot’s length forward;
for it is hard to know
when on the way
a man may need his weapon.

(Source: http://heathengods.com/havamal/thorpe.htm)

The open country could easily be substituted for a modern urban environment, be it a large city or a medium town, there are potential hostiles all around. Indeed, instead of physical terrain you could subsitute a mental terrain, for instance be warey of liars, cheats, con-artists etc.


[End.]

Havamal Snippets 37: Self-sufficiency is more honourable than parasatism

It's Wednesday (Woden/Odin's Day) which means that it's time for another verse from the Havamal 'Sayings of the High One - Odin'. The poem full of wisdom, both everyday and ethereal. (The poem can be found in full HERE):

37. One’s own house is best,
small though it be,
at home is every one his own master.
Bleeding at heart is he,
who has to ask
for food at every meal-tide.

(Source: http://heathengods.com/havamal/thorpe.htm)

Self sufficiency is more honourable than begging or behaving like a parasite, even though you may be poor.

[End.]

Men of Yore: Skanderbeg

This is another in a series of posts about men from history who have either achieved great things in one form or another by pushing boundaries: either in themselves or in society or science or exploration of some form.  Boundary pushing and growth is what men do, it's their nature: to grow and push outwards.  We, as men, are the frontiersmen/the vanguard, the first to discover/uncover new territory, in a metaphysical sense (i.e. including both material and the immaterial) that is later colonised and 'civilised' by the rest of humanity. 

It is also partly intended to show images, be they paintings, statues or photographs of the countenances of men of yore.  Because, quite frankly, many men wear the countenances of women these days: smiling, smirking, cooing, rolling their eyes, looking smug etc.  It's a sign of the times, and by showing some images of men from the past, I hope to show some modern men why looking surly, frowning and giving hard-ball stares at people is something to do, something to practise.

George Kastrioti

Skanderbeg, byname of George Kastrioti, or Castriota, Albanian Gjergj Kastrioti   (born 1405, northern Albania—died Jan. 17, 1468, Lezhë, Albania), national hero of the Albanians.

A son of John (Gjon) Kastrioti, prince of Emathia, George was early given as hostage to the Turkish sultan. Converted to Islām and educated at Edirne, Turkey, he was given the name Iskander—after Alexander the Great—and the rank of bey (hence Skanderbeg) by Sultan Murad II. During the defeat of the Turks at Niš (1443), in Serbia, Skanderbeg abandoned the Turkish service and joined his Albanian countrymen against the forces of Islām. He embraced Christianity, reclaimed his family possessions, and in 1444 organized a league of Albanian princes, over which he was appointed commander in chief.

In the period 1444–66 he effectively repulsed 13 Turkish invasions, his successful resistance to the armies of Murad II in 1450 making him a hero throughout the Western world. Through the years he elicited some support from Naples, Venice, and the papacy and was named by Pope Calixtus III captain general of the Holy See. In 1463 he secured an alliance with Venice that helped launch a new offensive against the Turks. Until the end of his life he continued to resist successfully all Turkish invasions. Within a few years of his death, however, his citadel at Krujë had fallen (1478), and Albania passed into several centuries of obscurity under Turkish rule.

  Source: http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/547262/Skanderbeg



There are many nationalist heroes throughout the Balkan area who fought for their Right to self-determination despite the seemingly overwhelming might of the Ottoman army, Skanderbeg is just one of them.  It demonstrates that despite overwhelming odds, smaller nation-states like Albania, can hold their own against mighty empires.


Check out some of the other entries from the 'Men of Yore' series:
King Alfred, the Great
John MacDouall Stuart
Richard Trevithick
Wyatt Earp
William 'Wild Bill' Cody
Andrew Carnegie
Duke of Viseu (Henry the Navigator)
Meriwether Lewis
Arthur Schopenhauer
Theodore Roosevelt
Rudolph Diesel
John Snow
Ludwig van Beethoven
Henry Ford
George Custer

[End.]

How much did things cost in 1850's USA?

Here's a small list of various things from 1850's (and 1840's and 1860's) and how much they cost.  I've also included a list of jobs with their respective wages/salaries so that you can see how long you would've had to work to buy a kilogram of salted beef, or a colt revolver, or a pair of boots, or the 'Mexican Cession' (New Mexico and California), or whatever.

All of the figures have been standardised to kilograms and litres for ease of comparison (nearly all of the original data was in a numerous measures including lbs, bushels, gallons, quarts, barrels etc).  The wages have also been standardised to days, weeks and years also for ease of comparison. 

The original sources for all of the data is listed on the right hand side, and the hyperlinks for these sources are at the bottom of the page.

If you want to find the cost of a particular item, like a horse or a loaf of bread, then just press 'Ctrl' and 'F' on your keyboard and type the item in question.

If you are interested in manipulating the data further (e.g. putting all of the 'coffee' data in one collumn and comparing the variation in price) then it should be relatively easy to transfer the data into a spreadsheet.

Occupational Income	Income Per:
Occupation	Day	Week	Year	Year	Location	Source

Common Labouer	$0.88	$4.40	$228.00	1851	Lake Erie Canal	[15]
Carpenter	$1.50	$7.50	$390.00	1851	Lake Erie Canal	[15]
Common Labouer	$1.00	$5.00	$260.00	1854	Lake Erie Canal	[15]
Carpenter	$1.75	$8.75	$455.80	1854	Lake Erie Canal	[15]
Laborer	$0.41	$2.05	$106.60	1821-30	Philadelphia	[16]
Laborer	$0.43	$2.15	$111.74	1821-30	Philadelphia	[16]
Laborer	$0.44	$2.20	$114.60	1841-50	Brandywine	[16]
Laborer	$0.40	$2.00	$104.00	1841-50	Maryland	[16]
Laborer	$0.50	$2.50	$130.00	1841-50	Massachussetts	[16]
Laborer	$0.53	$2.63	$136.80	1841-50	Maryland	[16]
Trapper	$11.54	$57.69	$3,000.00	1831	Utah	[17]
Trapper	$1.15	$5.77	$300.00	1840	Utah	[17]
Unspecified general labour	$1.92	$9.62	$500.00	1840	Utah	[17]
Unskilled Laborer	$0.75	$3.75	$195.00	1840's	n/a	[18]
Shirtmaker (Paid for each shirt made, female)	$0.18	$0.90	$46.80	1833	New York	[18]
Railroad Contractor (Irish)	$0.55	$2.75	$143.00	1851-1852	New York	[18]
Pony Station Rider [with board and room]	$2.31	$11.54	$600.00	1860	California	[1]
Gold Miner	$10.00	$50.00	$2,600.00	1860	California	[2]

The Union Army:
Private [Up to 20 June 64]	$0.60	$3.00	$156.00	1860's	n/a	[19]
Private [from June 1864]	$0.74	$3.69	$192.00	1860's	n/a	[19]
Corporal [Union NCOs were paid at a similar rate to Confederacy NCOs]	$0.60	$3.00	$156.00	1860's	n/a	[19]
'Buck' Sergeants [Union NCOs were paid at a similar rate to Confederacy NCOs]	$0.78	$3.92	$204.00	1860's	n/a	[19]
First Sergeants [Union NCOs were paid at a similar rate to Confederacy NCOs]	$0.92	$4.62	$240.00	1860's	n/a	[19]
Engineer Sergeants [Union NCOs were paid at a similar rate to Confederacy NCOs]	$1.57	$7.85	$408.00	1860's	n/a	[19]
First Lieutenant	$4.87	$24.35	$1,266.00	1860's	n/a	[19]
Second Lieutenant	$4.87	$24.35	$1,266.00	1860's	n/a	[19]
Captain	$5.33	$26.62	$1,386.00	1860's	n/a	[19]
Staff Officer	$5.56	$27.81	$1,446.00	1860's	n/a	[19]
Major	$7.80	$39.00	$2,028.00	1860's	n/a	[19]
Lieutenant Colonel	$8.35	$41.77	$2,172.00	1860's	n/a	[19]
Colonel	$9.78	$48.92	$2,544.00	1860's	n/a	[19]
One star General	$14.54	$72.69	$3,780.00	1860's	n/a	[19]
Two star General	$21.09	$105.46	$5,484.00	1860's	n/a	[19]
Three star general	$34.98	$174.92	$9,096.00	1860's	n/a	[19]
The Confederate Army:
Private [Up to June 1864]	$0.51	$2.54	$132.00	1860's	n/a	[19]
Private [from June 1864]	$0.83	$4.15	$216.00	1860's	n/a	[19]
Corporal	$0.60	$3.00	$156.00	1860's	n/a	[19]
'Buck' Sergeants	$0.78	$3.92	$204.00	1860's	n/a	[19]
First Sergeants	$0.92	$4.62	$240.00	1860's	n/a	[19]
Engineer Sergeants	$1.57	$7.85	$408.00	1860's	n/a	[19]
Colonel (infantry)	$9.00	$45.00	$2,340.00	1860's	n/a	[19]
Colonel (artillery, engineer, cavalry)	$9.69	$48.46	$2,520.00	1860's	n/a	[19]
Brigadier General (1 star General)	$13.89	$69.46	$3,612.00	1860's	n/a	[19]

Commodities:		Cost per X Units: [1], [2]
Item	Unit of Measure	1 Unit	1000 Units	Year	Location	Source
Coffee	Kilogram	$0.40	$396.48	1853	Texas	[1]
Beans	Litre	$0.09	$92.45	1853	Texas	[1]
Flour	Kilogram	$0.11	$110.13	1853	Texas	[1]
Hard Bread	Kilogram	$0.22	$220.26	1853	Texas	[1]
Rice	Kilogram	$0.22	$220.26	1853	Texas	[1]
Bacon	Kilogram	$0.33	$330.40	1853	Texas	[1]
Fresh Beef	Kilogram	$0.11	$110.13	1853	Texas	[1]
Pork	Kilogram	$0.24	$242.29	1853	Texas	[1]
Salt Beef	Kilogram	$0.20	$198.24	1853	Texas	[1]
Sugar	Kilogram	$0.18	$176.21	1853	Texas	[1]
Vinegar	Litre	$0.06	$55.03	1853	Texas	[1]
Coffee	Kilogram	$0.44	$440.53	1861	Wisconsin	[1]
Tea	Kilogram	$1.65	$1,651.98	1861	Wisconsin	[1]
Butter	Kilogram	$0.40	$396.48	1861	Wisconsin	[1]
Cheese	Kilogram	$0.31	$308.37	1861	Wisconsin	[1]
Eggs	Each	$0.02	$15.00	1861	Wisconsin	[1]
Lard	Kilogram	$0.26	$264.32	1861	Wisconsin	[1]
Cranberries	Litre	$0.11	$105.66	1861	Wisconsin	[1]
Currants	Kilogram	$0.26	$264.32	1861	Wisconsin	[1]
Dried apples	Kilogram	$0.20	$198.24	1861	Wisconsin	[1]
Dried peaches	Kilogram	$0.44	$440.53	1861	Wisconsin	[1]
Hubbard squash	Kilogram	$0.02	$22.03	1861	Wisconsin	[1]
Lemons	Each	$0.03	$30.00	1861	Wisconsin	[1]
Potatoes	Kilogram	$0.01	$8.44	1861	Wisconsin	[1]
Raisins	Kilogram	$0.44	$440.53	1861	Wisconsin	[1]
Squashes	Each	$0.03	$30.00	1861	Wisconsin	[1]
Sweet potatoes	Kilogram	$0.07	$73.42	1861	Wisconsin	[1]
Barley	Kilogram	$0.01	$9.91	1861	Wisconsin	[1]
Bran & shorts	Kilogram	$0.01	$13.22	1861	Wisconsin	[1]
Corn meal	Kilogram	$0.04	$44.05	1861	Wisconsin	[1]
Indian corn in cobb	Kilogram	$0.01	$5.51	1861	Wisconsin	[1]
Indian corn, shelled	Kilogram	$0.01	$7.71	1861	Wisconsin	[1]
Oats	Kilogram	$0.00	$4.41	1861	Wisconsin	[1]
Rye	Kilogram	$0.01	$9.91	1861	Wisconsin	[1]
Rye flour	Kilogram	$0.05	$49.56	1861	Wisconsin	[1]
Wheat	Kilogram	$0.01	$14.32	1861	Wisconsin	[1]
Wheat flour	Kilogram	$0.05	$52.86	1861	Wisconsin	[1]
Beef	Kilogram	$0.07	$66.08	1861	Wisconsin	[1]
Codfish	Kilogram	$0.13	$132.16	1861	Wisconsin	[1]
Hams	Kilogram	$0.31	$308.37	1861	Wisconsin	[1]
Hobs	Kilogram	$0.13	$132.16	1861	Wisconsin	[1]
Lake Michigan trout	Kilogram	$0.18	$176.21	1861	Wisconsin	[1]
Lambs	Kilogram	$0.05	$51.76	1861	Wisconsin	[1]
Veal calves (6 weeks old)	Kilogram	$0.07	$66.08	1861	Wisconsin	[1]
Brown sugar	Kilogram	$0.20	$198.24	1861	Wisconsin	[1]
Common salt	Kilogram	$0.06	$60.57	1861	Wisconsin	[1]
Honey	Kilogram	$0.55	$550.66	1861	Wisconsin	[1]
Molasses	Litre	$0.11	$110.06	1861	Wisconsin	[1]
Vinegar (cider)	Litre	$0.06	$55.03	1861	Wisconsin	[1]
White sugar	Kilogram	$0.31	$308.37	1861	Wisconsin	[1]
Cheese	Kilogram	$3.30	$3,303.96	1849	California	[2]
Flour	Kilogram	$1.10	$1,101.32	1849	California	[2]
Fresh beef	Kilogram	$0.77	$770.93	1849	California	[2]
Pork	Kilogram	$1.65	$1,651.98	1849	California	[2]
Sugar	Kilogram	$1.10	$1,101.32	1849	California	[2]
Brick	Each	$0.08	$80.00	1849	California	[2]
Lumber	Each	$0.15	$150.00	1849	California	[2]
Coffee	Kilogram	$0.35	$352.42	1849	California	[2]
Teas	Kilogram	$2.20	$2,202.64	1849	California	[2]
Butter	Kilogram	$2.20	$2,202.64	1849	California	[2]
Cheese	Kilogram	$2.20	$2,202.64	1849	California	[2]
Flour	Kilogram	$0.40	$396.48	1849	California	[2]
Rice	Kilogram	$0.22	$220.26	1849	California	[2]
Fresh Pork	Kilogram	$0.55	$550.66	1849	California	[2]
Ham	Kilogram	$2.20	$2,202.64	1849	California	[2]
Blankets	Each	$100.00	$100,000.00	1849	California	[2]
Boots	Pair	$25.00	$25,000.00	1849	California	[2]
Shoes	Pair	$12.00	$12,000.00	1849	California	[2]
Coffee	Kilogram	$0.73	$726.87	1849	California	[2]
Beans	Kilogram	$0.44	$440.53	1849	California	[2]
Potatoes	Kilogram	$0.31	$308.37	1849	California	[2]
Flour	Kilogram	$0.88	$881.06	1849	California	[2]
Rice	Kilogram	$0.66	$660.79	1849	California	[2]
Sugar	Kilogram	$0.66	$660.79	1849	California	[2]
Flour	Kilogram	$0.66	$660.79	1849	California	[2]
Beef	Kilogram	$1.65	$1,651.98	1849	California	[2]
Salt Pork	Kilogram	$1.65	$1,651.98	1849	California	[2]
Molasses	Litre	$0.88	$880.50	1849	California	[2]
Sugar	Kilogram	$1.10	$1,101.32	1849	California	[2]
Mining Cradles	Each	$60.00	$6,000.00	1849	California	[2]
Mining Pans	Each	$8.00	$8,000.00	1849	California	[2]
Mules	Each	$150.00	$150,000.00	1849	California	[2]
Oxen	Each	$150.00	$150,000.00	1849	California	[2]
Wagons	Each	$80.00	$80,000.00	1849	California	[2]
Mocassins	Pair	$1.00	$1,000.00	1849	Utah	[3]
Butter	Kilogram	$0.44	$440.53	1849	Utah	[3]
Cheese	Kilogram	$0.55	$550.66	1849	Utah	[3]
Milk	Litre	$0.09	$88.05	1849	Utah	[3]
Potatoes	Kilogram	$0.04	$36.71	1849	Utah	[3]
Flour	Kilogram	$0.04	$44.05	1849	Utah	[3]
Beef	Kilogram	$0.22	$220.26	1849	Utah	[3]
Sugar	Kilogram	$1.10	$1,101.32	1849	Utah	[3]
Hay	Kilogram	$0.04	$44.05	1850	n/a	[4]
Hemp	Kilogram	$0.11	$110.13	1850	n/a	[4]
Hops	Kilogram	$0.22	$220.26	1850	n/a	[4]
Flax	Kilogram	$0.33	$330.40	1850	n/a	[4]
Maple Syrup	Kilogram	$0.18	$176.21	1850	n/a	[4]
Tobacco	Kilogram	$0.22	$220.26	1850	n/a	[4]
Wool	Kilogram	$0.77	$770.93	1850	n/a	[4]
Butter and Cheese	Kilogram	$0.33	$330.40	1850	n/a	[4]
Beeswax and Honey	Kilogram	$0.33	$330.40	1850	n/a	[4]
Cotton	Kilogram	$0.18	$176.21	1850	n/a	[4]
Rice	Kilogram	$0.09	$88.16	1850	n/a	[4]
Rum	Litre	$0.17	$170.00	1833	n/a	[5]
Beef	Kilogram	$0.07	$66.00	1847	n/a	[5]
Butter	Kilogram	$0.38	$380.00	1848	n/a	[5]
Whisky	Litre	$0.08	$80.00	1848	n/a	[5]
Sugar	Kilogram	$0.19	$190.00	1850	n/a	[5]
Pork	Kilogram	$0.13	$130.00	1850	n/a	[5]
Bacon	Kilogram	$0.20	$200.00	1850	n/a	[5]
Blanket (serape)	Each	$80.00	$80,000.00	1849	California	[6]
Handkerchief	Each	$1.08	$1,080.00	1849	California	[6]
Flannel Shirt	Each	$8.00	$8,000.00	1849	California	[6]
Blankets (bed)	Each	$25.00	$25,000.00	1849	California	[6]
Boots	Pair	$24.00	$24,000.00	1849	California	[6]
Uniform Jacket	Each	$32.00	$32,000.00	1849	California	[6]
Thread	Kilogram	$2.25	$2,250.00	1849	California	[6]
Trousers	Each	$18.00	$18,000.00	1849	California	[6]
Tin of Crackers	Each	$8.50	$8,500.00	1849	California	[6]
Box of Chocolates	Each	$40.00	$40,000.00	1849	California	[6]
Tea Set	Each	$24.00	$24,000.00	1849	California	[6]
Tobacco	Kilogram	$0.06	$60.57	1846	Kentucky	[7]
Feathers	Kilogram	$0.55	$550.66	1846	Kentucky	[7]
Cured Meat	Kilogram	$0.13	$132.16	1846	Kentucky	[7]
Eggs	Each	$0.01	$5.00	1846	Kentucky	[7]
Whisky	Litre	$0.08	$83.63	1846	Kentucky	[7]
Sugar	Kilogram	$0.22	$220.26	1846	Kentucky	[7]
Coffee	Kilogram	$0.28	$275.33	1846	Kentucky	[7]
Pepper	Kilogram	$0.57	$572.69	1846	Kentucky	[7]
Coffee	Kilogram	$0.28	$275.33	1846	Kentucky	[7]
Fine Tooth Comb	Each	$0.15	$150.00	1846	Kentucky	[7]
Tuck Comb	Each	$0.17	$170.00	1846	Kentucky	[7]
Candles	Kilogram	$0.28	$275.33	1846	Kentucky	[7]
Tallow	Kilogram	$0.14	$139.50	1846	Kentucky	[7]
Ball of Candle Wick	Each	$0.13	$130.00	1846	Kentucky	[7]
Candle Molds	Pair	$0.87	$870.00	1846	Kentucky	[7]
Whisky	Litre	$0.08	$83.63	1846	Kentucky	[7]
Whisky	Litre	$0.04	$44.01	1846	Kentucky	[7]
Whisky Barrel (Empty)	Each	$0.50	$500.00	1846	Kentucky	[7]
Pelts	Kilogram	$13.22	$13,215.86	1831	Utah	[8]
Pelts	Kilogram	$4.41	$4,405.29	1840	Utah	[8]
Colt Revolver	Each	$10.00	$10,000.00	1847	n/a	[9]
Colt Revolver (Retail Price)	Each	$25.00	$25,000.00	1861	Missouri	[10]
Springfield Model 1861 Rifle	Each	$20.00	$20,000.00	1861	n/a	[11]
Springfield Model 1861 Rifle (Manufacturing cost at the official armory)	Each	$12.00	$12,000.00	1861	n/a	[12]
Springfield Model 1861 Rifle (Manufacturing cost at private armories)	Each	$14.00	$14,000.00		n/a	[12]
Gatling Gun	Each	$1,000.00	$1,000,000.00	1864	n/a	[12]
Slave ('in the prime of his life')	Each	$1,600.00		1859	Georgia	[14]
Slave (mean average price at the auction)	Each	$708.28		1859	Georgia	[14]
Slave (injured)	Each	$300.00		1859	Georgia	[14]
Slave	Each	$400.00		1850	Southern States	[4]
Slave ('Prime Field Hand')	Each	$1,800.00		1860	Southern States	[12]
Horse	Each	$120		1861	n/a	[12]
Horse	Each	$185		1865	n/a	[12]
Restaurant Food
Item	Unit	Cost		Year	Location	Source
Cup of chocolate (hot chocolate)	Each	$0.05		1850's	California	[1]
Mammoth glass of Mason Celebrated Beer	Each	$0.05		1850's	California	[1]
Clam chowder	Each	$0.05		1850's	California	[1]
Hot oatmeal mush	Each	$0.10		1850's	California	[1]
Beefsteak and onions, with fried potatoes	Each	$0.10		1850's	California	[1]
Boiled mutton with oyster sauce	Each	$0.10		1850's	California	[1]
Chicken pot pie	Each	$0.20		1850's	California	[1]
Pig's feet, soused or in batter	Each	$0.10		1850's	California	[1]
Porterhouse steak	Each	$0.25		1850's	California	[1]
Roast beef with lima beans	Each	$0.10		1850's	California	[1]
Roast turkey and currant jelly	Each	$0.25		1850's	California	[1]
Stewed mutton with bread, butter and potatoes	Each	$0.05		1850's	California	[1]
Baked Apples	Each	$0.05		1850's	California	[1]
Buckwheat cakes with honey	Each	$0.05		1850's	California	[1]
Stewed prunes	Each	$0.05		1850's	California	[1]
Ale (bottle)	Each	$2.00		1850's	California	[1]
Champagne (bottle)	Each	$5.00		1850's	California	[1]
Champagne cider (bottle)	Each	$2.00		1850's	California	[1]
Claret (bottle)	Each	$2.00		1850's	California	[1]
Old Madeira (bottle)	Each	$4.00		1850's	California	[1]
Pale sherry (bottle)	Each	$3.00		1850's	California	[1]
Baked sweet potatotes	Each	$0.50		1850's	California	[1]
Boiled Irish Potatoes	Each	$0.50		1850's	California	[1]
Cabbage	Each	$0.50		1850's	California	[1]
Cheese	Each	$0.75		1850's	California	[1]
Ox tail soup	Each	$1.00		1850's	California	[1]
Squash	Each	$0.50		1850's	California	[1]
Baked trout, white and anchovy sauce	Each	$1.50		1850's	California	[1]
Beef stewed with onions	Each	$1.25		1850's	California	[1]
Curried sausages	Each	$1.00		1850's	California	[1]
Pork & apple sauce	Each	$1.25		1850's	California	[1]
Roast beef, Stuffled lamb or mutton	Each	$1.00		1850's	California	[1]
Stewed Kidney, Sauce de Champagne	Each	$1.25		1850's	California	[1]
Tenderloin lamb, green peas	Each	$1.25		1850's	California	[1]
Apple Pie	Each	$0.75		1850's	California	[1]
Brandy peach pastry	Each	$2.00		1850's	California	[1]
Bread pudding	Each	$0.75		1850's	California	[1]
Jelly Omelette	Each	$2.00		1850's	California	[1]
Mince Pie	Each	$0.75		1850's	California	[1]
Rum Omelette	Each	$2.00		1850's	California	[1]
Stewed Prunes	Each	$0.75		1850's	California	[1]

Sources:

[1]   http://www.foodtimeline.org/foodpioneer.html

[2]   http://www.kidport.com/Reflib/UsaHistory/CalGoldRush/lifeof49er.htm

[3]   http://historytogo.utah.gov/utah_chapters/pioneers_and_cowboys/index.html

[4]   http://docsouth.unc.edu/nc/helper/helper.html [page 65]

[5]   http://gpih.ucdavis.edu/files/Maryland_1752-1856.xls

[6]   http://www.road-kill-cafe.com/forbestown/faq.html

[7]   http://www.nkyviews.com/owen/text/store_ledger.html

[8]      http://historytogo.utah.gov/utah_chapters/trappers,_traders,_and_explorers/traderstrappersandmountianmen.html

[9]   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel_Colt

[10]  http://www.civilwarhome.com/potpourr.htm

[11]  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Springfield_Model_1861

[12]  http://www.civilwarhome.com/potpourr.htm

[14]  http://www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/slaveauction.htm

[15]  http://facweb.furman.edu/~benson/docs/wage4570.htm

[16]  http://gpih.ucdavis.edu/files/Maryland_1752-1856.xls

[17]      http://historytogo.utah.gov/utah_chapters/trappers,_traders,_and_explorers/traderstrappersandmountianmen.html

[18]  http://www.yale.edu/ynhti/curriculum/units/1990/5/90.05.07.x.html

[19]  www.civilwarhome.com

Footnotes:

Footnote 1:

The metrics from the orginal source data has been standardised for the sake of uniformity, and to allow like for like comparison between items.

lbs are taken as 0.454kg; pints as 0.568 litres; gallons as 4.546 litres; bushels are taken as 36.368 litres; quarts are taken as 1.136 litres;

Footnote 2:

Many of the prices in the source data gave a price range, marked by a low figure and a high figure.

If that is the case, then the figures given in this listing are of the higher figure, the higher possible price.

Footnote 3:

As the source data only provided income for one period of time (either day, week, month or year), that piece of information has been listed.  If the income data provided by the orginial source was in months, then it has been multipled by 12 to give the income per year, and then divided by 52 to give the income per week, and then 5 to give the income per day.  This works out to 260 working days per year.

[End.]