Blacks and browns from animal, vegetable and geological sources that are likely to have served as pre-twentieth century pigments and binders in paintings are studied. Coal tar dyestuffs are not included. The article aims to present a comprehensive survey of analytical results, understood chemistry, known history and basic technology of terpenoid resins and balsams, amber, non-terpenoid resins, aloes, spanish liquorice, mummy, bitumen, asphaltum, lignites, peats, resin, pitch, tar, rosin, bistre, charcoal and tar. Graphs, references.