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.
Object 1:
John Thomas Smith, Two Blind Beggars, etching (1816). Wellcome Library no 16451i.
Object 2:
Docteur (Sébastien) Guillié, Essai sur L’Instruction des Aveugles (Paris, 1817). RNIB Collection A10 RESLIBb10006330
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
Credit RNIB
Object 5:
Unknown, The Sinner’s Help (London: Religious Tract Society, 1842), 2nd edn. RNIB Collection Acc No: L1/10.
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
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
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.
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.
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
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
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
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.
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.
Credit: RNIB
Object 15:
M. de Genoude, Evangelie Selon Saint Matthieu (Paris, 1868). Braille type. RNIB Collection Acc No: L1/7.
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
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
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
Credit: RNIB
Object 19:
Dr T. R. Armitage’s Journal, 1880-82, Braille. RNIB Collection Acc No: PP/1
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
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.
Credit: RNIB
Object 23:
Typograph, by W. Hughes, 1850. Wood, brass and paper. RNIB Collection Accn No: Mus/5
Credit: RNIB
Object 24: Hammond 2 braille typewriter, c. 1902. Wood, metal, plastic. RNIB Collection Acc No: Mus/1
Credit: Wellcome Library
Object 25:
W. Sharp after A. Fisher, Oliver Caswell and Laura Bridgman, lithograph (1844). Wellcome Library no 16376i.
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
Credit: Private collection
Object 27:
Carte de visite from L’Institution des Jeunes Aveugles, Toulouse (1860s/70s). Private collection
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.
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
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