Papermaking using fibers from the Mexican Tabasco ("Jolocin") tree

Sala, Antenor

[PAPERMAKING - MEXICAN TABASCO TREE]. Informe acerca de la explotacion del tejido cortical del arbol tabasqueno llamado "Jolocin", aplicado a la industria papelera, y con motivo de los ensayos verificados el dia 24 de junio del presente ano en la fabrica de papel "Belem"

Mexico City: Tip. de la Secretaria de Fomento, 1890. First Edition. Small 4to. 31 pp. + 1 full-page illustration. Original printed wrappers (detached, spine worn, paper stock a trifle browned and brittle). Good. Item #3765

PRINTED ON PAPER MANUFACTURED FROM 25% "JOLOCIN" (MEXICAN TABASCO TREE) PAPER AND 75% RAGS. This is an early Mexican report on making paper using the cortex of the "Jolocin" Tabasco tree. It is divided into three parts: cultivating the plant, transforming the fibers into paper, and other considerations. The present report preceded by seven years the U.S. Government Office for Fiber Investigations, which identified Jolocin (Heliocarpus arborescens) as being a source of paper fibers, rating it "about 75 points out of 100, for strength, color, care in preparation, and utility. The uses of the fibers were not learned, though, doubtless, they are only valuable for rough native cordage and mats, and as PAPER STOCK" [emphasis ours]. (SOURCE: C.R. Dodge, "Descriptive Catalogue of Useful Fiber Plants of the World" 1897, pp. 189-190).

Copies located: Tulane, NYPL, Berkeley, Biblioteca Nacional de Chile, Biblioteca Nacional de Espana, BnF. NB: OCLC 16501723 calls for "31 pp. 3 leaves (samples)." These "samples" are not found in the copies at BnF, the Bibl. Nacional de Chile, or the Biblioteca Nacional de Espana (with which we collated ours).

Price: $300.00