[Trade Catalogue] Rongalit. Badische Anilin- & Soda-Fabrik; Rongalit C fur Cattandruck

Ludwigshafen am Rhein: Badische Anilin- & Soda-Fabrik, 1910. Wraps. Very Good. Large fabric swatches that are suggestive that the pared down, more abstract aethetics associated with Art Deco are actually ones that significantly pre-date, by more than a decade, what is understood as the Art Deco era. The swatches are also fairly large, measuring 16.5 by 8.5 cm. The swatches' purpose, of course, was to show the variety and richness of the company's dyes, which heightened the blues, indigos, reds and crimsons, among other colors. Especially eye-catching are the swatches with paisley designs and thosewith Middle Eastern or Asian roots, such as one might find on a Turkish or Persian rug. These swatches offer a feast of juxtaposed rich colors. N.d. but circa 1910. There is a single listing of a booklet similar to this one, same source, on OCLC First Search, with no ownership given, with the date of 1910, but the description is such as to distinguish it from this. However, the 1910 dating fits well with all the attributes of this catalogue or company promotion. From OCLC First Search, we know this is also scarce, with no copies found there at all, and only a few issued by this company that are mostly quite different. 4to. 26 by 19 cm. Title, blank, [4-list of plates and text pages], two fold-out color plates of equipment, followed by 14 numbered cotton fabric swatches. Rongalit, or Rongalite, is a salt compound used by the dye and printing industry. Condition: minor dog earing and a chip of wrap covers. Moderate wear evident. First leaf foxed, with less of this on the subsequent leaves. Still VG.