Benjamin Franklin once described a curious purse made of asbestos, a material long prized for its resistance to fire before its health dangers were understood. In this Legends of Asbestos episode, attorney Justinian Lane looks at Franklin’s unusual asbestos purse, his sale to Sir Hans Sloane, and how Sloane’s collection helped form the British Museum. The video also explores the historical claims around where the purse came from, what it was made of, and why this strange artifact still matters today. It is a fascinating look at asbestos history, early scientific curiosity, and one of Benjamin Franklin’s lesser-known stories.
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