Stachelscrift
Johann Wilhelm Klein printing device for people who are blind
£275
Rare Books, Manuscripts, Maps & Photographs
Auction: 17 June 2020 at 11:00 BST
Description
the hinged slatted lid over a felt 'writing' pad over a small paper drawer with an adjacent compartment for storing the printing blocks, with 25 smaller printing blocks (lacking 'X'), a stop block, a spacing block, and 21 larger printing blocks (lacking 'E', 'H', 'I', 'V', 'W', & 'X', with and additional 'M',) the box 33 x 34 x 10cm
Footnote
Note: The Stachelschrift - literally 'thornwriter', was a device designed by Johann Wilhelm Klein to enable people who were blind to write. In 1804, Klein undertook the tutor-ledge of James Brown, a young blind man, and devised the Stachelschrift for Brown in 1807. The writer would place the paper onto a felt pad and then use the spiked letter blocks to punch holes into the paper through the slats. Unfortunately, the Stachelschrift proved rather difficult to operate.