In Joseph Conrad’s ‘An Outcast of the Islands’ (1896), set in the second half of the nineteenth century, the wealthy Arab trader Syed Abdulla of the Dutch East Indies is described as using ‘silk envelopes’ and ‘a green silk wrapper’ for his correspondence. I have tried without success to find any information about the use of silk envelopes, green or otherwise, particularly those which might have been in use in the nineteenth century and by Arab traders. I would be very grateful for any information you might be able to give me on this question, or suggestions about sources to consult.

Réponse apportée le 08/26/2011  par PARIS – Bibliothèque de l’Institut du Monde Arabe – Monde Arabe, Islam

Dear Sir,

After many research in books of our collection about silk trade or silk road, we did’nt find anything precisely about silk envelopes or silk wrappers.

Nevertheless you may consult these selected resources and ask them your question. They are more specialized than us on this subject :

> Map on the Silk road and trade between Arab and Muslim countries :
The silk Museum

> The Dutch East India Company :

> Textiles Museum / Musée des tissus, Lyon (France)
Page on the silk road by Unesco (access unvailable today)

You could also ask your question to the British Library :
< http://www.bl.uk/aboutus/contact/index.html Best regards, Institute of the Arab world's Library Eurêkoi - Bibliothèque de l'Institut du monde arabe http://www.imarabe.org/page-sous-section/la-une https://www.eurekoi.org