Memoria sobre la naturaleza, cultivo, y beneficio de la grana...: Plancha 2, 4, 5, 7, 8, 10
Item
Identifier
2024.010
Title
Memoria sobre la naturaleza, cultivo, y beneficio de la grana...: Plancha 2, 4, 5, 7, 8, 10
Type
Manuscript (reproduction)
See all items with this value
Date
1777 (original)
Creator
Alzate y Ramírez
Culture
Spanish
See all items with this value
Description
Copy dated 1777 of Alzate y Ramírez's extensive, illustrated essay on the nature, cultivation, and benefits of the cochineal insect. The essay, produced by order of the Viceroy Antonio Bucareli y Ursúa, is a study of the cochineal insect from which is extracted the cochineal dye, a very important product of New Spain and one of its chief exports. Alzate discusses the physical appearance of the male and female; the propagation, life cycle, and natural enemies of these insects; and the nopal cactus used as a feeding source. He describes the various methods for harvesting the cochineal dye, such as steaming and drying, and describes how the Spanish government regulates the cultivation and commerce of cochineal. He also includes a specialized vocabulary of terms used in the cochineal industry. There are two appendices: an extract of a newspaper article on the cochineal insect from the Gaceta literaria de la Europe of April 10, 1765; and a detailed description of the nopal from recent scientific works. The ten colored plates contain drawings of the insect, its cocoons, and the nopal cactus, and illustrate how the steam bath and certain utensils are used in the harvesting procedures. Housed at the Newberry Library, Ayers MS 1031.
Measurements
138 leaves, 10 leaves of plates (some folded). Height: 12-1/4 in. (31 cm)
Subject
manuscripts; dyes; dyeing; ingrain; grain; cochineal; red; reds
Source
Gift from Susan T. Evans
Copyright statement
These images are posted publicly for non-profit educational uses, excluding printed publication. Other uses may not be permitted.