“Paris green” was used to color book covers in the 19th century.e century. A very toxic substance. Libraries try to identify them and protect those who consult them. At the Royal Library too.
Article reserved for subscribers
Journalist at the Culture department
By Jean-Claude VantroyenPublished on 04/28/2024 at 5:33 p.m.
Reading time: 4 min
HASrsenic, that’s for sure, Sherlock Holmes or Hercule Poirot would say after having sniffed these books and thus pointing out the culprit! Yes, books from the 19th centurye century can be killers. Because they contain particles of this deadly poison. These books are decorated with green cardboard covers or the edges of their pages are green, and to obtain this color appreciated in that century, copper acetate and arsenic trioxide were combined to produce acetoarsenite. copper. An “emerald green” of the most beautiful effect, which was found at the time on wallpaper, gloves, dresses and even books. It is called Paris green pigment or Schweinfurt green or CI 21 green pigment.
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