Please click on the links below for further information about the exhibition items. Each object has a page that includes an image, caption information, an object description and a comment box.
A full set of object descriptions is available as a word document here.
![V0015891 Two blind beggars, one stands with a placard around his neck](http://blogs.bbk.ac.uk/touchingthebook/files/2013/07/V0015891-_Smith-blind-beggars-copy-150x150.jpg)
Object 1:
John Thomas Smith, Two Blind Beggars, etching (1816). Wellcome Library no 16451i.
![Object 2_Essai sur les aveugles_1817](http://blogs.bbk.ac.uk/touchingthebook/files/2013/07/Object-2_Essai-sur-les-aveugles_1817-150x150.jpg)
Object 2:
Docteur (Sébastien) Guillié, Essai sur L’Instruction des Aveugles (Paris, 1817). RNIB Collection A10 RESLIBb10006330
![Credit: RNIB](http://blogs.bbk.ac.uk/touchingthebook/files/2013/07/Object-4_Menagerie-of-Birds_1841-150x150.jpg)
Credit: RNIB
Object 4:
Unknown, A Peep into the Menagerie of Birds, Embossed for the Use of the Blind (Glasgow: Printed in the Asylum at the Institution Press by John Alston, 1842). RNIB Collection Acc No: L1/3
![Unknown, The Sinner’s Help (London: Religious Tract Society, 1842), 2nd edn. Book, Gall type. Dimensions: 118 x 372 x 14mm](http://blogs.bbk.ac.uk/touchingthebook/files/2013/07/Object-5_sinners-help_1841-150x107.jpg)
Credit RNIB
Object 5:
Unknown, The Sinner’s Help (London: Religious Tract Society, 1842), 2nd edn. RNIB Collection Acc No: L1/10.
![Unknown, The First Class Book for the Blind (Sunday School Union: London, 1840; Edinburgh, J. Gall).](http://blogs.bbk.ac.uk/touchingthebook/files/2013/07/Object-6_Gall-Class-book_1841-150x134.jpg)
Credit: RNIB
Object 6:
Unknown, The First Class Book for the Blind (Sunday School Union: London, 1840; Edinburgh, J. Gall). RNIB Collection Acc No: L1/9
![James H. Frere, Directions for Teaching the Blind to Read, by the Combination of Elementary Sounds. Pamphlet (c.1841). Pamphlet.](http://blogs.bbk.ac.uk/touchingthebook/files/2013/07/Object-7_Frere-Memoria-Technica_c.-1841-150x150.jpg)
Credit: RNIB
Object 7:
James H. Frere, Directions for Teaching the Blind to Read, by the Combination of Elementary Sounds. Pamphlet (c. 1841). RNIB Collection Acc No: L1/13
![George A. Hughes, The New Punctiuncula Stenographic System of Embossing by Which the Blind of All Nations will be Able to Emboss for themselves on any Paper without the Use of Type and to attain a Perfect Knowledge in Reading, Arithmetic, etc, with Unprecedented Facility (London, 1843).](http://blogs.bbk.ac.uk/touchingthebook/files/2013/07/object-8_G-A-Hughes-Punctiuncula_1843-150x150.jpg)
Credit: RNIB
Object 8:
George A. Hughes, The New Punctiuncula Stenographic System of Embossing by Which the Blind of All Nations will be Able to Emboss for themselves […] (London, 1843). RNIB Collection Acc No: L1/11.
![Front cover of Fifth Annual Report of the Fund for Embossing Books for the Blind, by William Moon, of the Improved System of Reading (Brighton: William Moon, 1853).](http://blogs.bbk.ac.uk/touchingthebook/files/2013/07/Object-9_Moon-5-annual-report_1853-150x150.jpg)
Credit: RNIB
Object 9:
Fifth Annual Report of the Fund for Embossing Books for the Blind, by William Moon, of the Improved System of Reading (Brighton: William Moon, 1853). RNIB Collection Acc No: A1/2.
![48th Annual Report of Moon’s Society, For Embossing & Circulating the Holy Scriptures and other Useful Books, &c., in Dr. Moon’s Type for the Blind (1896). Annual Report](http://blogs.bbk.ac.uk/touchingthebook/files/2013/07/Object-9_48th-annual-report-for-Moon-front-cover_1896-150x150.jpg)
Credit: RNIB
Object 10:
48th Annual Report of Moon’s Society, For Embossing & Circulating the Holy Scriptures and other Useful Books, &c., in Dr. Moon’s Type for the Blind (1896). RNIB Collection Acc No: A1/1
![The Gospel by St John for the Blind: With an Introduction, Containing some Historical Notices Regarding the Origin and Establishment of a Tangible Literature for Their Use (Edinburgh: Printed and Published by James Gall, 1832/34)](http://blogs.bbk.ac.uk/touchingthebook/files/2013/07/Object-11_Saint-John-Gospel-Gall-type-frontispiece_1832-150x150.jpg)
Credit: RNIB
Object 11:
The Gospel by St John for the Blind: With an Introduction, Containing some Historical Notices Regarding the Origin and Establishment of a Tangible Literature for Their Use (Edinburgh: Printed and Published by James Gall, 1832/34). RNIB Collection Acc No: L1/8
![The Gospel According to Saint John, edited by T. M. Lucas (Bristol: Bristol Society for Embossing and Circulating the Authorised Version of the Bible, 1837).](http://blogs.bbk.ac.uk/touchingthebook/files/2013/07/Object-12_Saint-Johns-Gospel-Lucas-type-frontispiece_1837-150x150.jpg)
Credit: RNIB
Object 12:
The Gospel According to Saint John, edited by T. M. Lucas (Bristol: Bristol Society for Embossing and Circulating the Authorised Version of the Bible, 1837). RNIB Collection Acc No: L1/4
![The Authorized Version of the Psalms of David in Metre, Embossed for the Use of the Blind 2 vols (Glasgow: Printed in the Asylum at the Institution Press by John Alston, 1838)](http://blogs.bbk.ac.uk/touchingthebook/files/2013/07/Object-12_Psalms-of-David-Alston-Frontispiece_1838-150x150.jpg)
Credit: RNIB
Object 13:
The Authorized Version of the Psalms of David in Metre, Embossed for the Use of the Blind 2 vols (Glasgow: Printed in the Asylum at the Institution Press by John Alston, 1838). RNIB Collection Acc No: L1/1.
![The Gospel According to Saint John (London: The London and Blackheath Association for Embossing the Scripture for the Blind upon Mr Frere’s Principle of the Combination of Elementary Sounds at the Establishment of No 6 Wood Street, Westminster, 1843).](http://blogs.bbk.ac.uk/touchingthebook/files/2013/07/Object-14_Saint-Johns-Gospel-in-Frere-type-frontispiece_1843-150x142.jpg)
Credit: RNIB
Object 14:
The Gospel According to Saint John (London: The London and Blackheath Association for Embossing the Scripture for the Blind upon Mr Frere’s Principle of the Combination of Elementary Sounds at the Establishment of No 6 Wood Street, Westminster, 1843). RNIB Collection Acc No: L1/6.
![M. de Genoude, Evangelie Selon Saint Matthieu (Paris, 1868). Braille type.](http://blogs.bbk.ac.uk/touchingthebook/files/2013/07/Object-15_St-Matthew-in-French-braille_1868-150x150.jpg)
Credit: RNIB
Object 15:
M. de Genoude, Evangelie Selon Saint Matthieu (Paris, 1868). Braille type. RNIB Collection Acc No: L1/7.
![W. and R. Chambers, An Introduction to the Science of Astronomy (Glasgow: Printed in the Asylum at the Institution Press by John Alston 1841). Book, Alston type.](http://blogs.bbk.ac.uk/touchingthebook/files/2013/07/Object-16_Chambers-Astronomy-in-Alston_1842-150x150.jpg)
Credit: RNIB
Object 16:
W. and R. Chambers, An Introduction to the Science of Astronomy (Glasgow: Printed in the Asylum at the Institution Press by John Alston 1841). RNIB Collection Acc No: L1/2
![Mrs Sewell, Mother’s Last Words, In T. M. Lucas’s Embossed Characters (1868).](http://blogs.bbk.ac.uk/touchingthebook/files/2013/07/Object-17_Mothers-Last-Words-in-Lucas-front-cover_1868-150x150.jpg)
Credit: RNIB
Object 17:
Mrs Sewell, Mother’s Last Words, In T. M. Lucas’s Embossed Characters (1868). Book. Lucas type. RNIB Collection Acc No: L1/5
![List of Books Printed for the Blind at the New England Institution, 1838. Boston Line type.](http://blogs.bbk.ac.uk/touchingthebook/files/2013/07/Object-18_Boston-Line-Type-book-list_1838-150x150.jpg)
Credit: RNIB
Object 18:
List of Books Printed for the Blind at the New England Institution, 1838. Boston Line type. RNIB Collection Acc No: L1/12
![Dr T. R. Armitage’s Journal, 1880-82, Braille.](http://blogs.bbk.ac.uk/touchingthebook/files/2013/07/Object-19_T-R-Armitage-journal-page-21_1880-150x143.jpg)
Credit: RNIB
Object 19:
Dr T. R. Armitage’s Journal, 1880-82, Braille. RNIB Collection Acc No: PP/1
![Braille writing frame as used by Dr T. R. Armitage, c. 1880. Wood and brass.](http://blogs.bbk.ac.uk/touchingthebook/files/2013/07/Object-20_Armitage-writing-frame_1880s-150x150.jpg)
Credit: RNIB
Object 20:
Braille writing frame as used by Dr T. R. Armitage, c. 1880. Wood and brass. RNIB Collection Acc No: Mus/5
![Klein Type letters in display case, c. 1830.](http://blogs.bbk.ac.uk/touchingthebook/files/2013/07/Object-22_Klein-writing-stamps_1850s-150x150.jpg)
Credit: RNIB
Objects 21 and 22:
Klein Type Box, c. 1840 (folding box, green felt backing to type board, 24 lines, lead type. With key and catches). RNIB Collection Acc No: Mus/2; Klein Type letters in display case, c. 1830. RNIB Collection Acc No: Mus/4.
![Typograph, by W. Hughes, 1850. Wood, brass and paper.](http://blogs.bbk.ac.uk/touchingthebook/files/2013/07/DSC8083-150x150.jpg)
Credit: RNIB
Object 23:
Typograph, by W. Hughes, 1850. Wood, brass and paper. RNIB Collection Accn No: Mus/5
![Hammond 2 braille typewriter, c. 1902. Wood, metal, plastic.](http://blogs.bbk.ac.uk/touchingthebook/files/2013/07/Object-23_Hammond-2-braille-typewriter_1902-150x150.jpg)
Credit: RNIB
Object 24: Hammond 2 braille typewriter, c. 1902. Wood, metal, plastic. RNIB Collection Acc No: Mus/1
![W. Sharp after A. Fisher, Oliver Caswell and Laura Bridgman, lithograph (1844).](http://blogs.bbk.ac.uk/touchingthebook/files/2013/07/Object-24_Bridgman-and-Caswell_1844-150x150.jpg)
Credit: Wellcome Library
Object 25:
W. Sharp after A. Fisher, Oliver Caswell and Laura Bridgman, lithograph (1844). Wellcome Library no 16376i.
![The Bible for the Blind. Home Teaching Society for the Blind, (Moon’s Type). Minute Book (London, 1877). Minute book.](http://blogs.bbk.ac.uk/touchingthebook/files/2013/07/object-26_home-teaching-society-minute-book_1877-150x150.jpg)
Credit: RNIB
Object 26:
The Bible for the Blind. Home Teaching Society for the Blind, (Moon’s Type). Minute Book (London, 1877). RNIB Collection Accn No: RNIB/1
![Carte de visite from L’Institution des Jeunes Aveugles, Toulouse (1860s/70s).](http://blogs.bbk.ac.uk/touchingthebook/files/2013/07/Object-27_Carte-de-Visite-Toulouse-Jeune-Aveugles_1860-70s-150x150.jpg)
Credit: Private collection
Object 27:
Carte de visite from L’Institution des Jeunes Aveugles, Toulouse (1860s/70s). Private collection
![Unknown photographer. Unknown Woman Reading an Embossed Book, tintype photograph (c. 1860s).](http://blogs.bbk.ac.uk/touchingthebook/files/2013/07/Object-29_tintype-unknown-blind-woman_1860s-150x150.jpg)
Credit: Private collection
Objects 28-29:
Unknown photographer. Ann Whiting, ambrotype photograph (c. 1850s-60s). Private collection; Unknown photographer. Unknown Woman Reading an Embossed Book, tintype photograph (c. 1860s). Private collection.
![William Moon, Light for the Blind: A History of the Origin and Success of Moon’s System of Reading (Embossed in Various Languages) for the Blind (London: Longmans & Co., 1873).](http://blogs.bbk.ac.uk/touchingthebook/files/2013/07/Object-30_William-Moon-Light-for-Blind-portrait_1873-150x150.jpg)
Credit: Private collection
Object 30: William Moon, Light for the Blind: A History of the Origin and Success of Moon’s System of Reading (Embossed in Various Languages) for the Blind (London: Longmans & Co., 1873). Private collection
![W. Ridgeway, after George Smith, A Blind Girl Reads the Bible by Touch to her Illiterate Family in the Dark, engraving (1871).](http://blogs.bbk.ac.uk/touchingthebook/files/2013/07/V0036151_blind-girl-reading-to-her-family-copy-150x150.jpg)
Credit: Wellcome Library
Object 31: W. Ridgeway, after George Smith, A Blind Girl Reads the Bible by Touch to her Illiterate Family in the Dark, engraving (1871). Wellcome Library no 574955i
I am conducting a research about the image and faith for the blind, for an art project.
I would like to know who organized the exhibition of Touching the Book, and if possible to have her/his contact info.
Kind regards,
Alinka.
Dear Alinka – many thanks for your message. I am the exhibition curator and you can contact me on h.tilley at bbk.ac.uk. Thanks, Heather Tilley