National Aniline & Chemical Co., Inc.

Dyes for Cotton: Direct, Developed, and Basic Dyes [with 210 dyes cotton samples]

New York: National Aniline & Chemical Co., Inc., ca. 1922. Very Good. Item #33118

New York: National Aniline & Chemical Co., Inc., ca. 1922. Octavo; publisher's moiré cloth, upper cover lettered in gilt; xxxiii; [30]pp.; [2]pp. with 210 dye samples. Frontispiece with tissue guard plus one plate. Tipped-in slip to title regarding the relocation of the company offices in 1922. Light wear; split to top of rear joint; corners bumped; gilt dulled. Binding sound. Ownership inscription of Thomas R. Hughes "and Wife" to preliminaries; occasional spotting; off-setting from dye samples; overall Very Good. 

Preliminary text includes 16 pages of explanations and instructions on various processes of dyeing. The body of the work features 210 samples of dyed cotton, each displayed in a bow pattern, with 14 samples to rectos and a table of properties of each shade pairing to verso. This collection showcases the R&D efforts of National Aniline & Chemical Company, which, after a 1917 merger, had captured 75% of the burgeoning post-war dye market. This collection was part of a publicity campaign to convince department stores and the general public that their fastness properties were equal to pre-War German dyes. Indeed, it wasn't until 1920 that the company discovered the composition of Zambesi Black D, which until then had been a German trade secret (not included here, can't just let anyone see ZBD!). An intriguing little collection for anyone interested in Trans-Atlantic color and chemical development and industry jockeying. So, everyone. 

"National Aniline and Chemical Company Buffalo, New York." Available online.

Price: $300.00