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). Book, Lucas type. Dimensions: 281 x 431 x 37mm (open)

RNIB Collection Acc No: L1/4

Credit: RNIB

T. M. Lucas was 73 when he put his embossed system based on stenographic (shorthand) principles before the public, endorsed by the Bristol Society for blind people: the London Society for Teaching the Blind to Read was established soon after for its promotion. Lucas argued that his use of contracted characters for frequently used words would reduce the size (and cost) of book volumes. Consisting of twelve simple signs, whose form Lucas attributed to ‘divine origin’, the system attracted criticism for being overly complicated, with users having to master several rules of contracted words and sounds. It remained in use in a simplified form after his death, until the 1870s.

References:

T.M. Lucas, Instructions for Teaching the Blind to Read with the Britannic or Universal Alphabet, and Embossing their Lessons &c (Bristol: Philip Rose and Son, 1837)

Object Description:

This book is open at the frontispiece. The left hand page contains printed text, the right hand page contains embossed text. [Transcription of the left hand page]: THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO SAINT JOHN. Edited by T.M. Lucas, Inventor of the System for Teaching the Blind to Read by Embossed Stenographic Characters. July 1837. Bristol: Published and Sold by F. W. B. Reid, Secretary to the Bristol Society for Embossing and Circulating the Authorised Version of the Bible. And to be had of P. Rose and Son, Broadmead; And of the British and Foreign Bible society, London. Embossed by Philip Rose and Son, Printers, Broadmead, Bristol. Entered at Stationers’ Hall. [End transcription]. There is an ink inscription ‘Harriet Curry’ made by hand above the word ‘GOSPEL’ in the top left hand corner. The right hand page contains a series of embossed characters in Lucas’s type, comprised of horizontal, vertical and diagonal lines, as well as circles and semicircle shapes. [End description]