Abstract Syntheses and optical properties of some new halogen-bridged mixed-valence platinum complexes analogous to Wolffram’s Red Salt, [Pt(en)2][PtBr2(en)2](HSO4)4 (PBHS), [Pt(en)2][PtI2(en)2](HSO4)4·4H2O (PIHS), and [Pt(en)2][PtX2](en)2](SO4)2·6H2O {X=Br(PBSW), I(PISW)}, are reported. The powder X-ray diffraction pattern shows that PBHS is isomorphous with [Pt(en)2][PtCl2(en)2](HSO4)4 (PCHS), and that PBSW and PISW are isomorphous. The hydrogensulfates PBHS and PIHS crystallize from an aqueous sulfuric acid solution, whereas the sulfates PBSW and PISW crystallize from an aqueous solution. The single crystal absorption spectra of PBHS, PIHS, PBSW, and PISW have been investigated at 4.2 K. The intense optical absorption due to intervalence charge-transfer transition from Pt(II) to Pt(IV) has been observed for the light polarized parallel to the Pt chain axis (E//chain). From the comparison of the energy of the intervalence charge-transfer absorption edges in PBHS, PBSW, and PISW, one can conclude that the influence of the substitution of the counterions HSO4− with SO42− on the Pt(II)–Pt(IV) mixed-valence state is no less better than that of the substitution of the bridging halogen. The role of the counterion on the mixed-valence state is explained by the hydrogen bond network (Pt–NH···counterion···HN–Pt) on individual chains.