Bibliotoxicology:
Greater awareness has risen recently concerning the phenomenon of “Poison Books”: that is, books containing pigments composed of heavy metals that are known to be hazardous to human health. Mercury, lead, chromium and arsenic-based pigments are generally the elements known to be present in bindings-they’re used to color the book-covering cloth, leather and/or paper- chiefly within the 19th century (largely the 1840’s-1860’s), and most likely of European or American publishing origin. [“Bibliotoxicology,” Doug Sanders, IU Libraries]
Noted in “Old books can be loaded with poison. Some collectors love the thrill.”, Ashley Stimpson, WaPo:
Some book lovers will settle for just a glimpse of one. When Brooklyn booksellers Honey & Wax offered up a lot of nine arsenical books at the New York International Antiquarian Book Fair in April, “lots of people just wanted a selfie with the books,” owner Heather O’Donnell wrote in an email.
Staff had discovered the books in a recently consigned collection of 19th-century volumes “and thought that marketing the poison books as such might be an effective way to raise awareness of bibliotoxicology,” O’Donnell says, “and get the books out the door swiftly.”
The marketing paid off. All the arsenical books — which ranged in price from $150 to $450 — sold within 48 hours.
Arsenical is fun, too.
