The origin of the name cobalt and the principal products, zaffre and smalt, were widely described contemporaneously in a variety of languages. Consequent variations in the names have confused many subsequent readers. In a brief historical survey of the use of cobalt many of these nominal variations are set out for discussion. Typical sources of cobaltic raw materials are noted. From existing records, some of which are in unpublished manuscript form, it is possible to trace the technical progress made in the preparative methods for cobalt blues. -- AATA