Horn Book History
The horn-book was once one of the most important educational tools in existence. Before its swift plunge into obscurity, it was used for nearly 400 years in one-room schools, classrooms, and homes. According to Andrew W. Tuer, horn-book scholar and author of The History of the Horn-Book (1897), the earliest record of a true horn-book is about 1450. The last caches were ordered from a wholesale dealer in stationery and school requisites known to William Hone, a writer and book seller, in 1799.
Over this page, fastened with brass plating and tacks, was a sheet of horn. This piece served as a protective cover for the hand-written page, knowing that children would not heed its fragility. Thomas Tickell, in his work “Poem in Praise of the Horn-book” (1728), said, “The faithful Horn before, from Age to Age, /Preserving thy invaluable Page.”
Many horn-books featured impressions or engravings on the back...
These common illustrations can indicate where a book was made. The Colonial style horn-book most often featured a ship design, whereas the English style featured St. George and the Dragon, military protector of England and symbol of all that is noble and courageous.
Tuer imagines over thirty different trades employed in the making of a horn book:
- • Timber merchant
- • Ink-ball maker
- • Carpenter
- • Tanner
- • Horn merchant
- • Skin merchant
- • Horner
- • Leather dresser
- • Metal merchant
- • Leather dyer
- • Metal beater
- • Paper-maker
- • Smelter
- • Paper-stainer
- • Ironmaster
- • Paper-embosser
- • Tack-maker
- • Color-maker
- • Punch cutter
- • Glue-maker
- • Type-founder
- • Stamp designer
- • Type-setter
- • Stamp engraver
- • Press-maker
- • Stamper
- • Press puller
- • Gold-leaf maker
- • Ink maker
- • Silver-foil maker
