1916 Hardcover Book, “Robin Hood And His Merry Men”: 1,572 ppm Lead + 81 ppm Arsenic

“Robin Hood & His Merry Men”, Copyright 1916 By Whitman Publishing Co.
Racine, Wisconsin

The amount of Lead that is considered toxic in a newly manufactured item intended for use by children is anything 100 ppm Lead or higher in the substrate of the item or anything 90 ppm Lead or higher in the paint or coating of the item. Modern children’s books would be considered in violation of the current regulations if they tested positive for Lead at 1,572 ppm as this one did.

When tested with an XRF instrument this book had the following readings:

Front Cover:
(minium 60-second test)

• Lead (Pb): 1,572 +/- 43 ppm
• Arsenic (As): 81 +/- 30 ppm
• Barium (Ba): 6,651 +/- 162
• Chromium (Cr): 430 +/- 62 ppm
• Selenium (Se): 53 +/- 12 ppm
• Zinc (Zn): 8,173 +/- 113 ppm
• Copper (Cu): 51 +/- 22 ppm
• Iron (Fe): 1,087 +/-52 ppm
• Metals not listed were not detected by the XRF instrument.

Inside Page Example:

• Lead (Pb): 815 +/- 39 ppm
• Barium (Ba): 11,500 +/- 300 ppm
• Chromium (Cr): 368 +/- 131 ppm
• Iron (Fe): 1,032 +/- 87 ppm

I always recommend avoiding vintage books (especially as gifts for young children), because they are usually high lead. To see more vintage books that I have tested, Click Here. Instead please consider purchasing the children in your lives new copies of classic stories and perhaps seeing if a local museum or other cultural institution might be an appropriate home for your vintage or antique books.

Thank you for reading and for sharing my posts.

As always, please let me know if you have any questions.

Tamara Rubin
#LeadSafeMama