The “Semper Augustus” is undoubtedly the most famous tulip from the Tulipmania.
There are various depictions of the Semper Augustus that have been preserved. The most famous depiction was created by an anonymous Dutch artist. This depiction is less well-known and therefore named ‘second’.
This particular tulip was praised as the most beautiful of them all, yet it was also extremely rare. The story of the “Semper Augustus” is a fascinating chapter in history. This tulip was so coveted that insanely high prices were offered for it.
When the Dutch Tulipmania was at its peak, a single bulb of this tulip was sold for fl 6,000 guilders, which would be approximately €83,000 in today’s currency. Converting historical currency to contemporary values is a complex process, but for that amount, you could have bought a grand canal house in Amsterdam at the time. The price of the flower was, gram for gram, higher than that of gold.
What made the “Semper Augustus” so special was its unique appearance. This tulip had fiery red petals with white stripes, a pattern known as ‘flames.’
The name “Semper Augustus” means ‘Always elevated.’ However, due to the rarity of the tulip and the uncontrollable virus that caused the special colors, the “Semper Augustus” was also incredibly fragile. This meant that the bulbs were difficult to grow and often did not survive.
The “Semper Augustus” is still remembered as one of the most iconic tulips of the Tulipmania.
The portrait of the “Semper Augustus” serves as insptiration for the eponymous NFT collections. The 99 NFT ‘Semper Augustus’ tulips are created in different art styles, reflecting the theme ‘Imperial’.
There are several works featuring the Semper Augustus in the NinetynineTulips collection, this version is less frequently found in Tulip books.
Ninetynine Tulips 