are you talking 1800's ancient? or 30's ancient?
the 1800's fabrics were not (white-white) bleach was not used so much for making the basic muslins white.
if you visit and browse quilt museum pictures you will find there really was no white like fabrics used in 1800's quilts they are quite dark
30's quilts are quite white---and colorful and i've seen 30's quilts that do have white on white fabrics (mostly shirtings)