When: The Numbers Through a Telescope

The data on the value of securities traded are graphed and analyzed to establish when the New York Stock Exchange began its rise to pre-eminence. Data for value of securities traded are presented as graphs. Value of securities traded = (Price of Security × Number of securities sold) + (face value at maturity of bonds). For the New York Stock Exchange: 12 data points for each year; one for each month. Similarly for the Philadelphia Stock Exchange and the Boston Stock Exchange. Graph 7.1 has data from 1835 to 1863. Graph 7.2 has data from 1835 to 1854 and Graph 7.3 has data from 1844 to 1852. Graph 7.4 presents 60 month moving average of the value of securities traded data. Analysis of graphs shows that the NYSE began its rise to pre-eminence in 1851–1852, and this process accelerated post 1852.