… scarlet, crimson, and oranges until about 1850 when synthetic reds were invented. Cochineal was a favorite because of its colorfastness, intense color, and ease to process and work. It was especially effective with animal textile fabrics such as wool because it adhered well to animal proteins, although it worked well with plant fibers such as cotton when used with mordants.
(In the Late Regency era, 1820’s, cochineal was a favorite dye in America with the new American grown cottons, as it was available from the newly acquired southwestern territories won in the Mexican-American War).