ARSENICAL BOOKS DATABASE

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Emerald green bookcloth with discolored spine. Courtesy of the Baldwin Library of Historical Children’s Literature, Special and Area Studies Collections, George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida.
Emerald green onlays. Courtesy of the Baldwin Library of Historical Children’s Literature, Special and Area Studies Collections, George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida. Annotated by Winterthur Poison Book Project team.
Emerald green paper binding. Courtesy of Ronald Smeltzer.



This growing list of known arsenical green bookbindings was initially based on emerald green, cloth-bound books discovered by the Poison Book Project; however, as contributing institutions have discovered emerald green paper and leather bindings, as well, we have expanded the scope of the list to include any mass-produced, 19th-century bookbinding that contains arsenical emerald green pigment.


In the 19th century, not every book from the same edition would have been bound identically. Therefore, it is possible to have a book of the same edition listed below, but which is not bound in emerald green bookcloth, paper, or leather. We provide this table of arsenical, mass-produced bookbindings as a starting point from which other institutions and private collectors may consider their own collections. This table includes information collected from bookmark recipients about possible emerald green cloth bindings, as well as more conclusive identification by Winterthur and other contributing institutions using instrumental analysis. To contribute data to the project, please read How To Submit Data to the Poison Book Project.


This table was last updated on May 8, 2022. Total number of emerald green bindings identified to date: 91. To receive this table as .csv file, please contact mtedone[at]winterthur[dot]org.


Date Added OCLC No. Title Author Imprint Date Number of Confirmed Arsenical Bindings Owner ID Method Arsenical Material
2/6/2020 Affection's Gift Philadelphia: Henry F. Anners 1850 1 The Library Company XRF bookcloth
2/6/2020 Angel Whispers Eddy, Daniel C. Boston: Dayton & Wentworth 1855 1 The Library Company XRF bookcloth
2/6/2020 Angel Whispers Eddy, Daniel C. Boston: Wentworth & Co. 1856 1 The Library Company XRF bookcloth
8/9/2021 Angel Whispers; or, The Echo of Spirit Voices Designed to Comfort those who Mourn Eddy, Daniel C. Boston: Dayton & Wentworth 1854 1 Private owner bookmark bookcloth
3/24/2022 Aphorisms of the Wise & Good Stanesby, Samuel 1862 1 Undisclosed bookmark, XRF bookcloth
11/15/2021 15320195 Book of beauty, or Token of friendship, The New York: Leavitt & Allen 1858 1 William & Mary Libraries bookmark, XRF bookcloth
3/24/2022 Book of the Royal Horticultural Society, The Murray, Andrew 1863 1 Undisclosed bookmark, XRF bookcloth
11/15/2021 18371729 Canine Pathology Blaine, D.P.; Boosey, Thomas London: T. & T.Boosey 1832 1 William & Mary Libraries bookmark, XRF bookcloth
3/24/2022 Christian Graces in Olden Time, The Stebbing, Henry 1852 1 Undisclosed bookmark, XRF bookcloth
2/6/2020 Complete Poetical Works of William Cowper, Esq., The New York & Philadelphia: Appleton & Co. 1845 1 The Library Company XRF bookcloth
3/24/2022 Court Album: Fourteen Portraits of the Female Aristocracy, The London: David Bogue 1850-1857 1 Undisclosed bookmark, XRF bookcloth
4/12/2022 Court album: twelve portraits of the female aristocracy, The Hayter, John London: David Bogue, 86, Fleet Street. 1852 1 Boston Athenaeum bookmark, XRF bookcloth, endpapers
2/6/2020, 4/12/2022 Crystal Sphere: its forces and its beings, The Sanders, J. Milton London: Hippolyte Bailliere 1857 2 The Library Company; Boston Athenaeum bookmark, XRF bookcloth
4/12/2022 Curse of the village, The; The happiness of being rich; and, Blind Rosa Conscience, Hendrik Baltimore: Murphy & Co. 1856 1 Boston Athenaeum bookmark, XRF bookcloth
3/24/2022 Deserted Village, The Goldsmith, Oliver London: Sampson Low & Son 1859 1 Undisclosed bookmark, XRF bookcloth
2/6/2020 54211672 Elementary Instruction in the Art of Illuminating and Missal Painting on Vellum, etc, 4th edition Laurent de Lara, D. London: Ackermann & Co. Strand, and all booksellers 1858 1 Winterthur XRF, Raman bookcloth
2/6/2020 Ellen; or, The Chained Mother Harlan, Mary B. Cincinnati. : Published for the author, by Applegate & Co. 1855 1 The Library Company XRF bookcloth
2/6/2020 Faggots for the Fireside Goodrich, Samuel G. (Samuel Griswold), 1793-1860. New York: D. Appleton & Co. 1854 1 The Library Company XRF green onlay
5/8/2022 32457034 Faggots for the Fireside Goodrich, Samuel G. (Samuel Griswold), 1793-1860. New York: D. Appleton & Co. 1855 1 University of Oregon Libraries bookmark, XRF bookcloth
2/7/2022 Faggots for the Fireside, or, Fact and fancy Goodrich, Samuel G. New York: D. Appleton and Co. 1855 1 George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida bookmark, XRF green onlay
11/15/2021, 2/7/2022 48393610 Faithful Hound, The: a true tale for children Thomas, Emily, Lady London: Griffith and Farran 1863 2 William & Mary Libraries; George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida bookmark, XRF bookcloth
3/24/2022 Farmer's Boy, The Bloomfield, Robert London: Sampson Low, Son & Co. 1857 1 Undisclosed bookmark, XRF bookcloth
2/6/2020 Floral Souvenir, A Perennial Gift Chambersburg, PA: Shryock, Reed & Co. 1841 1 The Library Company XRF bookcloth
2/6/2020 Friendship's Offering New York: Leavitt & Allen 1856 1 The Library Company XRF green onlay
4/12/2022 Friendship's offering Philadelphia: E.H. Butler & Co. 1854 1 Boston Athenaeum bookmark, XRF bookcloth
2/6/2020 Gem Annual…, The na Philadelphia : E. H. Butler & Co. 1854 1 Winterthur XRF, Raman bookcloth
4/12/2022 Geographical surveying, its uses, methods and results Carpenter, Frank De Yeau New York: D. Van Nostrand 1878 1 Boston Athenaeum bookmark, XRF paper covering
2/6/2020 Gift of Love Boston: J.Buffum 1850 1 The Library Company XRF bookcloth
8/9/2021 Golden Legacy to Daughters, or Advice to Young Ladies, A Boston: Higgins, Bradley and Dayton 1857 1 private owner bookmark bookcloth
8/9/2021 Grandpapa's Tales About Animals Bland, James Halifax [Eng.]: Milner and Sowerby 1850 1 private owner XRF, Raman bookcloth
4/12/2022 Grundlegung des Heils: für christliche Katecheten und Prediger Ackermann, C. F. W. Nürnberg: J.P. Raw 1836 1 Boston Athenaeum bookmark, XRF paper label
12/15/2021 Guadaloupe: A Tale of Love and War One who served in the campaign of 1846-7 Philadelphia: Jas. B. Smith & Co. 1860 1 Athenaeum of Philadelphia XRF bookcloth
2/6/2020 Hoyle's Games Philadelphia: Henry F. Anners 1845 1 The Library Company XRF bookcloth
5/8/2022 5536535 Italy: a poem Rogers, Samuel London: E. Moxon 1852 1 University of Oregon Libraries bookmark, XRF bookcloth
2/6/2020 Kanavagh: a tale, Illustrated Longfellow, Henry Wadsworth London: W. Kent & Co. (Late D. Bogue) 86, Fleet Street 1858 1 WUDPAC Study Collection XRF, Raman bookcloth
4/12/2022 Kobboltozo: a sequel to the Last of the Huggermuggers Cranch, Christopher Pearse Boston: Phillips, Sampson and Co. 1857 1 Boston Athenaeum bookmark, XRF bookcloth
3/24/2022 Lallah Rookh, an Oriental Romance Moore, Thomas London: Longman, Brown, Green, and Longmans 1854 1 Undisclosed bookmark, XRF bookcloth
2/6/2020 Leaflets of Memory New York: Leavitt & Allen 1855 1 The Library Company XRF bookcloth
4/12/2022 Lese-und Gebetbuch Passy, A. Regensburg: Georg Joseph Manz 1859 1 Boston Athenaeum bookmark, XRF textblock edges
2/6/2020, 4/12/2022 Liberty Bell, The Boston: National Anti-Slavery Bazaar 1856 2 The Library Company, Boston Athenaeum bookmark, XRF bookcloth
2/6/2020 Macaulay's Lays of Ancient Rome Macaulay, Thomas Babington Philadelphia: E. H. Butler & Co. 1854 1 The Library Company XRF bookcloth
3/24/2022 May Queen, The Tennyson, Alfred London: Day & Son 1861 1 Undisclosed bookmark, XRF bookcloth
2/6/2020 Military Journal of Major Ebenezer Denny Philadelphia: J.B. Lippincott & Co. 1859 1 The Library Company XRF bookcloth
3/24/2022 Musings on Guard Felix, Frank 1858 1 Undisclosed bookmark, XRF bookcloth
2/6/2020, 2/7/2022 My Own Garden Loudon, Mrs. (Jane) London: Kerby & Son 1855 2 Winterthur; George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida bookmark, XRF, Raman bookcloth
2/6/2020 Nellie Gray, or Ups and Downs of Everyday Life Philadelphia: American Sunday School Union 1855 1 The Library Company XRF bookcloth
2/6/2020 4272866 Nothing to Eat, Illustrated Jenkins, Edward O. New York: Dick and Fitzgerald 1857 1 Winterthur XRF, Raman bookcloth
2/6/2020 Oasis, or Golden Leaves of Friendship, The Ferguson, N.L., Ed. Boston : Dayton and Wentworth 1855 1 The Library Company XRF bookcloth
4/4/2022 1615988 Oasis; or Golden Leaves of Friendship, The Ferguson, N.J., Ed. Boston: Dayton and Wentworth 1854 1 Middlebury College Special Collections bookmark, XRF bookcloth
11/15/2021, 4/5/2022 15344101 Oasis; or Golden Leaves of Friendship, The Percival, M.J. Boston: Wentworth and Co. 1856 2 William & Mary Libraries; Middlebury College Special Collections bookmark, XRF bookcloth
12/15/2021 Ocean Gardens: The History of the Marine Aquarium Humphreys, H. Noel London: Sampson Low, Son, and Co. 1857 1 Athenaeum of Philadelphia XRF bookcloth
2/6/2020 On Human Longevity and the Amount of Life Upon the Globe Flourens, P. (Pierre), 1794-1867. London: New York: H. Bailliere, Publisher 1855 1 The Library Company XRF bookcloth
11/15/2021, 2/7/2022 12540092 Our folks at home, or, Life at the old manor house Toliver, Edward Philadelphia, New York: C.G. Henderson & Co, D. Appleton & Co. 1855 2 William & Mary Libraries; George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida bookmark, XRF bookcloth
2/6/2020 Patent Hat, The Ballou, Ellis, d. 1903. New-York: : Published for the author by Carlton and Phillips, 200 Mulberry-St. 1855 1 The Library Company XRF bookcloth
5/8/2022 268803190 Philoepena, The; A gift for all seasons New York: Leavitt & Allen 185? 1 University of Oregon Libraries bookmark, XRF bookcloth
12/15/2021 Pilgrim's Progress From This World to That Which Is To Come, The Bunyan, John; collated by Thomas Scott, D.D. Philadelphia: John B. Perry 1855 1 Athenaeum of Philadelphia XRF bookcloth
2/6/2020 Plants of the Holy Land Osborn, Henry S. Philadelphia : Parry & McMillan 1860 1 Winterthur XRF, Raman bookcloth
2/6/2020 Poems of Oliver Goldsmith, The London and New York: George Routledge & Co. 1859 1 The Library Company XRF bookcloth
4/12/2022 Poets and statesmen; their homes and haunts in the neighbourhood of Eton and Windsor Dowling, William London: E. P. Williams 1857 1 Boston Athenaeum bookmark, XRF bookcloth
12/15/2021 Positivist Calendar, The Edger, Henry Published by the Author, Modern Time (Thompson) L.I. 1856 1 Athenaeum of Philadelphia XRF bookcloth
2/6/2020 Rosebud, The New York: Leavitt & Allen 1856 2 The Library Company XRF green onlay
2/6/2020 Rural Annual and Year-Book of Country Life, The New York: Leavitt & Allen 1856 1 The Library Company XRF green onlay
2/6/2020, 3/24/2022, 4/12/2022 4799738 Rustic Adornments for Homes of Taste, 2nd edition Hibberd, Shirley London: Groombridge & Sons 1857 3 Winterthur; Boston Athenaeum; Undisclosed bookmark, XRF, Raman bookcloth
2/6/2020 Snowflake: a Christmas, New Year, and birthday gift, for MDCCCLIV, The na Philadelphia: E. H. Butler & Co. 1854 1 The Library Company XRF bookcloth
11/15/2021 22457189 Souvenirs d'un Voyage (Vol. 1) Huc, Evariste Régis, 1813-1860. Librairie d'Adrien le Clere et Cie 1853 1 William & Mary Libraries bookmark, XRF leather
11/15/2021 1427349 Souvenirs d'un Voyage (Vol. 1) Huc, Evariste Régis, 1813-1860. Paris, Librairie de Gaume Frères ... 1857 1 William & Mary Libraries bookmark, XRF paper
11/15/2021 22457189 Souvenirs d'un Voyage (Vol. 2) Huc, Evariste Régis, 1813-1860. Librairie d'Adrien le Clere et Cie 1853 1 William & Mary Libraries bookmark, XRF leather
11/15/2021 1427349 Souvenirs d'un Voyage (Vol. 2) Huc, Evariste Régis, 1813-1860. Paris, Librairie de Gaume Frères ... 1857 1 William & Mary Libraries bookmark, XRF paper
11/15/2021 5154306 Step from the New World to the Old, A (Vol. 2) Tappan, Henry Philip D. Appleton & Co. 1852 1 William & Mary Libraries bookmark, XRF bookcloth
2/6/2020 Sweet Home; or: Friendship's Golden Altar Boston: L.P. Crown & Co.; Philadelphia: J.W. Bradley 1856 1 The Library Company XRF bookcloth
2/6/2020 1044734 Tallis's history and description of the Crystal palace, and the Exhibition of the world's industry in 1851, Vol. 1 Tallis, John London & New York: J. Tallis and Co. 1852 1 Winterthur XRF, Raman bookcloth
2/6/2020 1044734 Tallis's history and description of the Crystal palace, and the Exhibition of the world's industry in 1851, Vol. 2 Tallis, John London & New York: J. Tallis and Co. 1852 1 Winterthur XRF, Raman bookcloth
2/6/2020 1044734 Tallis's history and description of the Crystal palace, and the Exhibition of the world's industry in 1851, Vol. 3 Tallis, John London & New York: J. Tallis and Co. 1852 1 Winterthur XRF, Raman bookcloth
4/5/2022 1345822 Ten Nights in a Bar-Room: And What I Saw There Arthur, T.S. Philadelphia: L.P. Crown & Co 1855 1 Middlebury College Special Collections Bookmark, XRF bookcloth
4/5/2022 Traité practique de l'Eclairage par le Gaz Inflammable Accum, Frederick Paris: chez l'Auteur et Nepveu libraire 1816 1 Ronald Smeltzer XRF, Raman paper covering
4/5/2022 63073611 Uncle Tom's Cabin or The History of a Christian Slave Stowe, Harriet Beecher London: Partridge and Oakey 1853 1 Middlebury College Special Collections Bookmark, XRF bookcloth
2/6/2020 Wanderers by Sea and Land, The Goodrich, Samuel G. (Samuel Griswold), 1793-1860. New York: D. Appleton & Co. 1854 1 The Library Company XRF green onlay
2/7/2022 Wanderers by Sea and Land, The Goodrich, Samuel G. New York: D. Appleton and Co. 1855 1 George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida bookmark, XRF green onlay
11/15/2021 5339885 White Veil: A Bridal Gift, The Hale, Sarah Josepha Buell Philadelphia: E.H. Butler & Co. 1854 1 William & Mary Libraries bookmark, XRF bookcloth
2/6/2020 Winter Wreath of summer flowers, A Goodrich, Samuel G. (Samuel Griswold), 1793-1860. New York: D. Appleton & Co. 1854 1 The Library Company XRF green onlay
2/7/2022 Winter wreath of summer flowers, A Goodrich, Samuel G. New York: D. Appleton and Co. 1855 1 George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida bookmark, XRF green onlay
2/6/2020 Works of Robert Burns, The New York: Leavitt & Allen 1856 1 The Library Company XRF bookcloth, green onlay