Hebrew Printing in Sabbioneta 1 AFFO, Ireneo - Schulz-Falster Rare ...

First edition, very rare, of this publication advertising the use of a steambased
washing machine. Presented in the form of a dialogue between the
padrona, the lady of the house, and her two washerwomen, the beneWts of
this revolutionary new washing technique are expounded. The arguments
used by the padrona could easily come out of a modern advertising jingle
– whiter than white, with no hint of laundry bluing. In four dialogues the
washerwomen are Wrst persuaded to try out this new washing technique,
which is then explained in great detail. In the course of the discussion various
traditional methods of washing are explained, such as bleaching in the
sun, using special soaps, ash or even soda. The garments are Wrst soaked in
baths of sulphoric acid diluted in water, and in caustic potash, then rinsed,
and Wnally put into the ‘washing machine’. The composition of this machine
and its construction is explained in great detail and illustrated on the
large folding plate.
In his preface the anonymous author writes that his invention is based
on an idea of the French scientist Cadet de Vaux (1743–1828). To increase
its circulation and readership the author decided to present the ideas in the
form of a dialogue, and to give further technical details which had not been
included by Cadet de Vaux.
OCLC lists one copy at Princeton, also recorded in the Bibliothèque Nationale.
susanne schulz-falster rare books