A few very scarce things today, and this is one of those; I've bought and sold a whole bunch of antique school slates, including a handful of wedge/lap desk shaped ones with printed insert cards, but never have I ever seen this one, and it seems to precede others of a related sort by a number of years. The brass clip at top identifies it as produced by John H. French with a December 1866 patent date--and a little research shows that French published a book to be used in concert with it in 1867: Elementary Arithmetic for the Slate. Of Burlington, VT, French would also go on to patent an " improved school desk" in 1871 (in the collection of the Smithsonian), but I can't turn up much else, and can find no record or other example out there of this slate--so, for someone like me who loves things of this sort, it is a pretty special one.
12 1/8" x 7 11/16". 4 cards, each double sided, I've documented all sides (I believe!) There is a fine hairline crack in the slate, as documented, but it is sound and stable--and the front side of the slate shows some lovely light etched patterns--gridding and cross-hatching, quite finely executed, as detailed. Reverse shows some old stains as evident, which do not wipe off.
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