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The Chinese Sensitive Leaf, Discovered by a celebrated Physician and eminent Professor of Botany and Chemistry, named Zaphrintra, of China, Afterwards introduced into other parts of the Continent, and into England, by a very Learned and Sensible Foreigner… [opening lines of broadside].
The Chinese Sensitive Leaf, Discovered by a celebrated Physician and eminent Professor of Botany and Chemistry, named Zaphrintra, of China, Afterwards introduced into other parts of the Continent, and into England, by a very Learned and Sensible Foreigner… [opening lines of broadside].

The Chinese Sensitive Leaf, Discovered by a celebrated Physician and eminent Professor of Botany and Chemistry, named Zaphrintra, of China, Afterwards introduced into other parts of the Continent, and into England, by a very Learned and Sensible Foreigner… [opening lines of broadside].

Eager to understand your physiology and temperament? An unusual Boston broadside


This Boston broadside, a fortune-telling broadside, would have been accompanied by two “sensitive leaves” each of which would be a sympathetic barometer to aid in disclosing an individual’s temperament. This 19th-century “phenomena” was “well worthy the inspection and patronage of every Amateur of Natural Curiosities, and will introduce much towards the pleasing amusement of the sociable and fashionable world…”

Eager to understand your physiology and temperament, you would hurry over to the Music Saloon, located at No. 34 & 36 Market Street, in Boston.

Once there, you would buy this broadside which came with two small sensitive Chinese leaves. One was smaller than the other; “the smallest for the ladies, to be placed on the palm of the left hand, as being nearest to the heart.

If you were a Choleric Person, the leaf would roll up and incline towards the wrist.

If Sanguine, the leaf would curl up and hastily abandon the hand. Such a man was:

“[A] ruddy complexion, is cheerful and easy in his manners, fond of, and encourages, the refinements of art and elegancies [sic] of life, is partial to the chase, and joins with alacrity the youthful party in their most animated diversions. The ladies differ, but little, except in adding those engaging qualities which them truly fascinating.”

The leaf had other ideas, for other kinds of people. If it moved slowly on the hand, you were a Reserved Melancholy Person. If the leaf moved into the position of a circle and so remained you were a Phlegmatic Person. The characteristics and temperaments of each are described in full.

The anonymous author of the broadside hedges their bets as to the efficacy of the system. Wrap your head around this Disclaimer:

Though it is not the design of the vendor to enforce an implicit dependence on the following descriptive conclusion, yet some reliance may be placed as its operations are so various on different persons; and he can assert, without any exaggeration, that he has repeatedly witnessed those corroborating effects produced among his acquaintances; however, the chief object now in view of novelty and amusement, will certainly be attained.

Talk about the small print.


Description: The Chinese Sensitive Leaf, Discovered by a celebrated Physician and eminent Professor of Botany and Chemistry, named Zaphrintra, of China, Afterwards introduced into other parts of the Continent, and into England, by a very Learned and Sensible Foreigner… [opening lines of broadside].

[Boston? c. 1820s–1830s]. [1]p. Approx. 9½ x 5¾ inches. Untrimmed, as issued. Folds, foxing, very good.

[3725442]

Refs. OCLC 81300170 (APS only). OCLC records less than four other entries with a similar title, but each with earlier dates, or date attributions, between the 1800s–1820s. NB: James A. Dickson is listed as the proprietor of the Music Saloon, at 34 Market Street, in an 1820 Boston city directory. See Fisher’s Notes on Music in Old Boston (Boston, 1818) for a brief mention of Dickson.


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