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by Joseph W. Zaehnsdorf
3rd Edition Published in London 1897
Although coloured calf-skins may be bought almost as cheaply
as smooth calf (the term given to uncoloured ones), yet there
are so many reasons why coloured calf should not be used,
that I give such instructions as will enable any one to colour,
sprinkle, and marble his own leather.
The skins may, however, be procured already sprinkled or
marbled at most leather shops. This plan of sprinkling and
marbling the whole skin is good enough for cheap or half-bound
work, but for extra work it is far better to sprinkle, marble, or
otherwise colour the leather when on the book.
Hand-colouring is coming again into use, and by degrees
getting known more and more throughout the trade; but a
great many secrets in the art have been lost. Before giving the
names of the chemicals to be used, I must give a general
caution, that if any acid be used on the leather, it is essential to
wash as much as possible of it out with water immediately after
It is a fault of some of our binders at the present day, that if they use any chemical, either on their leather or on their
paper, they are not satisfied to use their acid weak, and allow it to do its work slowly, and when the proper moment
has arrived stop its further action, they frequently use the acids as strong as possible, and, properties, do not wash
out the residue. The consequence is, the leather or the paper rots. In order to avoid this, I will not recommend any
chemicals that will destroy the leather, but give instructions for harmless preparations, by the use of which as great a
variety of different styles may be executed as will, I trust, satisfy any reasonable expectation.
Black
Sulphate of iron or copperas is the chief ingredient in black. Used by itself, it gives a grayish tint, but if a coat of salts
of tarter or other alkali be previously used it strikes immediately a rich purple black. The name copperas it probably
from the old and mistaken idea that the crystals contain copper. They have a pale greenish blue colour. It can be
purchased at the rate of one penny per pound from the drysalter.
1. Into a quart of boiling water, throw a ¼ lb. of sulphate of iron, let it re-boil, and stand to settle, and then bottle the
clear liquid for use.
2. Boil a quart of vinegar with a quantity of old iron nails, or steel filings for a few minutes. Keep this in a stone jar,
and use the clear liquid. This can from time to time be boiled again with fresh vinegar. An old iron pot must be kept for
boiling the black.
Brown
1. Dissolve a ¼ lb. of salts of tarter in a quart of boiling water, and bottle it for use.
This liquid is mostly used for colouring; it has a very mellow tone, and is always used before the black when a strong
or deep colour is required. It is poisonous, and must not be used too strong on the calf or it will corrode it.
2.For a plain brown dye, the green shells of walnuts may be used. They should be broken as much as possible, mixed
with water, and allowed to ferment. This liquid should be strained and bottled for used. A pinch of salt thrown in will
help to keep it. This does not in any way corrode the leather, and produces the best uniform tint.
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