Caoutchouc Collection

Africa, Saint Marie de Marovoay: a settler, Monsieur Sluzanski, in the middle of his heveas plantation
LUX4756920 Africa, Saint Marie de Marovoay: a settler, Monsieur Sluzanski, in the middle of his heveas plantation and next to his mulch, 1902; (add.info.: Africa, Saint Marie de Marovoay: a settler)

Amphibious tricycle using large rubber inflatable tires to move on land or water, France, circa 1890
NWI4961599 Amphibious tricycle using large rubber inflatable tires to move on land or water, France, circa 1890. Lithograph from 19th century illustration.; (add.info)

Decorative botanical print with rubber tree, dogwood, loquat and spotted laurel
5855558 Decorative botanical print with rubber tree, dogwood, loquat and spotted laurel; (add.info.: Five shrubs, including caoutchouc or rubber tree (Hevea brasiliensis), dogwood (Cornus sanguinea)

Rubber tree (hevea), Hevea guianensis 1, and gum arabic tree or thorn mimosa (red gum), Vachellia nilotica 2
FLO4575149 Rubber tree (hevea), Hevea guianensis 1, and gum arabic tree or thorn mimosa (red gum), Vachellia nilotica 2. Handcoloured copperplate engraving from Friedrich Johann Bertuch's

Rubber tapping in brazilian forest. 19th century, (engraving)
ELD4919305 Rubber tapping in brazilian forest. 19th century, (engraving); Private Collection; Photo © The Holbarn Archive.

Preparing Caoutchouc, a natural rubber produced in Amazon region. From the beginning of the second half of the 19th century, rubber was desirable commodity, valued at a high price

Michelin man. (illustration, circa 1930)
5975666 Michelin man. (illustration, circa 1930) by Rossillon, Marius (O'Galop) (1867-1946); Private Collection; (add.info.: Geography. France)

Michelin Bibendum. (engraving, circa 1930)
5975383 Michelin Bibendum. (engraving, circa 1930) by Rossillon, Marius (O'Galop) (1867-1946); Private Collection; (add.info.: Transport. Automotive. Pneux and the Michelin bibendum)

India rubber tree, elastic resin tree, Siphonia elastica
5856742 India rubber tree, elastic resin tree, Siphonia elastica by Sowerby, James (1757-1822); (add.info.: Flowers and leaves of the India rubber tree, elastic resin tree, Hevea brasiliensis)

Map of Paris. (Illustration, circa 1930)
5975932 Map of Paris. (Illustration, circa 1930) by Rossillon, Marius (O Galop) (1867-1946); Private Collection; (add.info.: Geography. France. Map of outings from Paris)

Michelin Bibendum. (Illustration, circa 1930)
5975934 Michelin Bibendum. (Illustration, circa 1930) by Rossillon, Marius (O Galop) (1867-1946); Private Collection; (add.info.: Transport. Automotive. Inflate your tires properly twice a month)

Raw rubber shredders - in "The wonders of the industry"
LSE4087351 Raw rubber shredders - in " The wonders of the industry" by Louis Figuier, 19th century by Unknown Artist

Rubber: rubber factory. Engraving from 1885 in "
XEE4143711 Rubber: rubber factory. Engraving from 1885 in " Les arts et metiers illustres" by Adolphe BITARD. by Unknown Artist

Rubber: incision of rubber shafts - chromo Liebig
LSE4098296 Rubber: incision of rubber shafts - chromo Liebig. by French School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Rubber)

Apparatus for vulcanizing rubber by dry steam - in "
LSE4087350 Apparatus for vulcanizing rubber by dry steam - in " The wonders of the industry" by Louis Figuier, 19th century by Unknown Artist

Sound energy: refraction of sound by means of a lens formed by a thin rubber membrane
XEE4139965 Sound energy: refraction of sound by means of a lens formed by a thin rubber membrane and filled with carbonic acid. Anonymous illustration from 1925. Private collection

Harvesting of rubber in the forests of Brazil
XEE555432 Harvesting of rubber in the forests of Brazil by French School, (19th century); Private Collection; Stefano Bianchetti; French, out of copyright

Large rolling mill to reduce blocks of purified rubber into sheets - in "
LSE4087358 Large rolling mill to reduce blocks of purified rubber into sheets - in " The wonders of the industry" by Louis Figuier, 19th century by Unknown Artist

Strange commercial plants (coloured engraving)
997717 Strange commercial plants (coloured engraving) by German School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: From A Bilderbuch fAor KinderA (Picture Book for Children) 1790-1830

Recoling rubber in Congo. Chromolitography of the late 19th century
XEE4409052 Recoling rubber in Congo. Chromolitography of the late 19th century. by Unknown Artist, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Recoling rubber in Congo)

The start of rubber researchers, in the vicinity of Tabatinga (upper Amazon region)
LSE4332482 The start of rubber researchers, in the vicinity of Tabatinga (upper Amazon region). Engraving by Riou, to illustrate the story of Cayenne aux Andes, by Jules Crevaux

India-rubber (engraving)
2780983 India-rubber (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: India-rubber. Illustration for Chatterbox (1889).); © Look and Learn

Gamboge; Benzoin; Caoutchouc; Gutta Percha (coloured engraving)
6005373 Gamboge; Benzoin; Caoutchouc; Gutta Percha (coloured engraving) by Fitch, W. (fl.1872); Private Collection; (add.info.: Gamboge; Benzoin; Caoutchouc; Gutta Percha)

Boilers for vulcanizing rubber by wet steam - in "
LSE4087354 Boilers for vulcanizing rubber by wet steam - in " The wonders of industry" by Louis Figuier, 19th century by Unknown Artist

Differents modeles d helicopteres a caoutchouc de Dandrieux (engraving)
5228403 Differents modeles d helicopteres a caoutchouc de Dandrieux (engraving) by French School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info)

Latex production on a Para Rubber Tree or Sharinga Tree -Hevea brasiliensis- on a rubber plantation, Pulau Langkawi, Sultanat Kedah, Malaysia

Incised Rubber Tree -Hevea brasiliensis-, natural rubber production on a plantation, Peermade, Kerala, India

Rubber tree engraving 1857
A History of the Vegetable Kingdom by Wlliiam Rhind 1855

Rubber Tree -Hevea brasiliensis-, natural rubber production on a plantation, Peermade, Kerala, India

Congo - Africa - Arrival of India Rubber, transported in specially-designed wicker carriers. In the early 1900s, the Congo Free State was also a significant source of natural rubber latex

SOUTH AMERICA: RUBBER. South American native Indians collecting rubber from Caoutchouc or India rubber trees (Hevea brasiliensis). Wood engraving, late 19th century

RUBBER, SOUTH AMERICA. South American native Indians collecting rubber from Caoutchouc or India rubber trees (Hevea brasiliensis). Wood engraving, late 19th century

Eucalyptus stem, light micrograph
Eucalyptus stem. Light micrograph of a transverse section through a one-year-old stem of a Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus globulus) plant

AGRI2A-00021
Indians tapping the caoutchouc, or India-rubber tree Hand-colored woodcut

All Professionally Made to Order for Quick Shipping

"Caoutchouc: The Amazon's Natural Treasure Unleashed" In the depths of the Amazon rainforest, a remarkable substance called caoutchouc was being prepared. This natural rubber, harvested from the elastic resin tree known as Siphonia elastica, held immense value and potential in 1881. During the second half of the 19th century, rubber became a highly sought-after commodity. Its allure lay not only in its practical uses but also in its ability to generate wealth and dividends for those who possessed it. It was a time when dreams were woven with threads of this precious material. Fast forward to circa 1930 - an era that witnessed iconic illustrations like that of Michelin man and Bibendum. These whimsical characters embodied the spirit of innovation and progress associated with rubber. They stood as symbols of endurance and adaptability – qualities inherent in both caoutchouc and Michelin's products. Meanwhile, Paris served as a hub for rubber production during this period. A map from that time showcases how this bustling city played host to numerous factories where raw rubber shredders tirelessly transformed caoutchouc into various forms ready for use. The process itself involved incisions made on rubber shafts, allowing their milky sap to flow freely before being collected meticulously by skilled hands. These artisans understood that every drop represented potential prosperity for themselves and their communities. Vulcanization emerged as another crucial step in harnessing caoutchouc's true potential. An engraving from 1885 depicts an apparatus utilizing dry steam to transform raw rubber into durable materials suitable for countless applications across industries worldwide. But it wasn't just about industry; sound energy found its way into our narrative too. A thin membrane made from flexible rubber acted as a lens refracting sound waves – showcasing yet another fascinating facet of this versatile material. Finally, we journey back to Brazil's lush forests where the harvesting of rubber took place.