Dewdrops. Religious Tract Society. [London]. 1872.

32nd edition. All edges gilt. Original pale yellow endpapers. Printed by Whittingham and Wilkins. Contemporary neat ink inscription on front endpapers, dated 1872. Provenance: S.A. Wilday, a Religious Examination prize from St. George's Girls' Day School, Edgbaston. 32 x 50 mm. Original green cloth; lower cover with madorla shaped elaborate blind-stamped floreate borders; front cover with the same in gilt and with title in the centre. Bondy, 128. Welsh, 2321. Dewdrops popularity meant that it went into 39 editions and this is one of the later examples. Given that the cloth is this period and colour, there is a possibility that it may have been treated with chemicals that include arsenic. Current findings suggest that the publication date range for volumes containing arsenic is 1830 to 1880 and that such books are bound in green cloth, green paper, or green leather. The chemical process used between 1830-90 for creating attractive emerald green pigment was not then known to be toxic - it was even used for selling chocolates from an arsenic chocolate box! But, if treated with respect, and if hands and touching surfaces are washed afterwards, there need not be personal exposure to any hazardous content. Most green book covers from this period do not contain arsenic (while books containing arsenic are green, not all green books contain arsenic). Colour and date alone are not conclusive as to poisonous elements. My personal precautionary suggestions include: 

• Use nitrile gloves when handling.
• Do not eat, smoke, or touch your face until you have completed handling the album and thoroughly washed your hands.
• Keep the album away from children and pets.
• Treat all nineteenth century books, including those that may be arsenical, with due respect.