Not quite a review as such. However, this lovely email from Nouira Mohammed Ghassen deserved a place on our site. Nouira is one of the leading experts making natural imperial purple using the methods unearthed by John Edmonds.

Nouira Mohammed Ghassen (May 2009)

"Salam,

My name is Mohammed Ghassen I am from Tunisia, my country was one of the greatest purple dyeing centers in the ancient world. The industry thrived in the ancient Phoenician colonies of Carthage, Kerkouane and Meninx and this process had been passed over to the Romans centuries later. I have been interested in clearing the mistery of Murex purple dye and made several dyeing trials. John helped me so much, he kindly sent me his imperial purple book and also used my pigment to dye wool threads which he sent me along with the right instructions to get the job done!

His help is very much appreciated and I think that I could not have learned what I know today about the dyeing process without his support and guidance."

Anyone interested in imperial purple dye should check out Nouira's Phoenicia Purple facebook group on the subject: here.

Alternatively, you can email him at carthaginian-purple-dye@hotmail.fr

William Bailey

"I have a copy of "A Manual of Eighteenth Century Dyeing"... In it Edmonds "translated" a number of William Partridge's recipes from his book "A Practical Treatise on Dyeing" into modern terminology. Also included are photographs of some of the results of dyeing with the updated recipes which are inspiring... The collection of books written entirely by John Edmonds are a goldmine of historical and practical information and are highly recommended."

... more book reviews coming soon.