Dedicated to Professor Jack D. Dunitz on the occasion of his 80th birthdayThe search for the polymorphic forms of 2,4-diaminobenzenesulfonic acid (DBSA), known to exist since 1880, has revealed a surprisingly rich solid-state system for such a simple molecule. A monohydrate, a dimoiric hydrate, an anhydrate and two polymorphic forms of the hydrochloride of this material have thus far been prepared. Their characterization by microscopic and thermal methods, FT-IR spectroscopy, and single-crystal structure determination are described.