Abstract
Madder, an ancient natural dyestuff used in 19th-century textile printworks, demonstrated great persistence in the marketplace before it was gradually replaced by alizarine, a coal-tar synthetic discovered in 1868. Alizarine's cheaper price has been cited as the reason for the change. Available American company records from 1870-1890 were examined for consumption of these red dyes and the prices paid for them. Comparisons reveal that price alone does not explain the transition. Other factors including easier use, greater variety of color, advanced awareness of chemistry, and increased economic pressures may have played a part also.
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