The abbreviated Russian legend translates: "By the grace of God, Catherine II, empress and sovereign of all Russia."

This sample book was a marketing tool; it contains swatches of fabric made by the Manchester manufacturing firm of Benjamin and John Bower. The samples on this page are woven with a very fine cotton warp and single, silk weft. The cotton fibers are likely of the Sea Island type, and when seen under the microscope, the morphology in the longitudinal view reveals short, steep-angled convolutions that contribute to the textile’s uniform and smooth texture.

1771, Germany

1771, Germany