In nature, bright colors are often indicative of danger — poisonous spiders and insects (and their imitators) often adorn themselves with electric coloring as a warning to potential predators. Turns out, some books inadvertently do the same.
In the mid-1800s, arsenic became popular as a compound used in book making. Its allure comes from the fact that arsenic, when combined with copper, has the ability to create brilliant emerald greens, which were then used in ornate covers and illustrations. The problem? We now know that long-term or large-scale exposure can lead to skin and lung irritation, and even cancer.
The Poison Book Project, begun by Winterthur Library, seeks to identify these books to help protect the safety of those who use them. Staff at the Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library, using the Poison Book Project as a guide, are on a mission to identify arsenical books in the collection so they can be housed accordingly. Charlie Webb, an intern with the Library’s conservation unit, writes:
Eventually, the goal of the Poison Book Project is to safely house arsenical books so that they can be studied without the dangers that come with handling arsenic.
Does this mean these works are lost to the public? Fortunately not. Webb continues,
Fortunately, such limited handling of these books does not restrict the information within. Most of the arsenical books that we have identified have duplicates elsewhere in UVA’s collections, and the arsenical copies can still be handled in the Special Collections reading room with the necessary protective equipment.
As in nature, it turns out those electric pigments merit caution — but with appropriate care and attention, they don’t need to stand in your way… whether your goal is a hike or a fascinating read.