Title: Cover of The Oasis, or, Golden leaves of friendship

Identifier: AY11 .O27 1855   (https://digital.lib.ecu.edu/62174)

Description: Cover of The Oasis, or, Golden leaves of friendship / edited by N.L. Ferguson. Boston : Dayton and Wentworth, 86 Washington Street, 1855. This was a gift book, meant to be given to friends during the Victorian period. Notably, this collection of poetry was covered by the publisher using an emerald green book cloth that was popular during the 1850's. Analysis of the pigment by Joyner Library conservation staff, performed using X-ray fluorescence with assistance from the Queen Anne's Revenge Conservation Lab, showed that the pigment used for the bright green color of the cover contains the toxic pigment, copper acetoarsenite, sometimes known as emerald green, Paris green, Scheele's green, or Schweinfurt green. This pigment was popular during a portion of the Victorian era, but fell out of use owing partially to its toxicity.