Portrait of a Gentleman in Colours: The Romance of Mr Lewis Berger

86pp, plus large section of black and white plate illustrations at rear. Yellow cloth-covered boards; gilt titles on front and spine. 8vo. Sun-faded spine area, lightly rubbed spine end, rubbed boards. Text block edge tanning. Endpapers starting to tan, pages starting to tan. Otherwise internally neat, clean and tight. In 1760 Louis Steigenberger (1740-1816) relocated to London from Germany, to sell Prussian blue, made with his own secret formula.  He anglicised his name to Lewis Berger and married and settled in East London, selling his wares from a shop in Cheapside.  He founded Berger Paints and traded under the name Louis Berger and Sons.  Upon his death in 1814, his two sons took over the company which continued to trade until the early years on the 20th century when it was bought up by the American paint manufacturer Sherwin Williams.  The concern is now part of Crown Paints.