Library Company of Philadelphia
“I don’t care if Monday’s blue…”
Actually, we do care, especially when it comes to this brilliant blue marbled binding and complimentary blue marbled endpapers! (Not pictured: blue sprinkled edges and a blue silk bookmark. Swoon!)
This style of leather marbling is known as Valencia marbling, a variation of Spanish marbling known for its bright, vibrant colors.
Lope de Vega. Colección de las obras sueltas. (Madrid, 1776).
“No blueing required when this soap is used”
This circa 1880 elephant-shaped trade card for Kirk’s Blue India Soap claims “no blueing required when this soap is used”. Blueing (or, bluing) is the process of adding trace amounts of blue dye while laundering white fabrics. As white fabric tends to yellow over time, the blue dye counters the yellowing to create the illusion of a brighter white. White fabric is often blued during its manufacturing process.