Replication Data for: Sociological Profiles of Mineral Collectors and Collection Practices (1925)

Title: Sociological Profiles of Mineral Collectors (1925). Description: This supplementary dataset (DATASET_MINERAUX.csv) provides the sociological context underpinning the historical mineral market. It is derived from the Annuaire des Collectionneurs (1925) and documents the social composition of collectors and their collecting practices in the early 20th century. The dataset supports the interpretation of minerals not merely as commodities, but as markers of social distinction and cultural capital. Data Structure: The file contains aggregated observations structured for multivariate statistical analysis, including: Socioprofessional Categories: Classification of collectors by social group (e.g., Aristocrats, Engineers, Doctors, Artists). Types of Collections: Binary and frequency-based variables indicating collecting preferences (e.g., Naturalia vs. Furniture / Ceramics). Cross-Tabulated Variables: Matrices linking social categories to collection types, enabling the analysis of symbolic hierarchies in collecting practices. Methodology: The data were manually extracted and structured from printed directories. They were specifically designed for Factorial Correspondence Analysis (FCA/AFC) in order to map the social space of collectors and to identify patterns of distinction between scientific, artistic, and decorative approaches to mineral collecting. Analytical Contribution: This dataset is used to contextualize the 1923 auction data by highlighting the social foundations of mineral valuation, demonstrating how collecting minerals functioned as a practice of learned distinction rather than aesthetic consumption.