{"product_id":"ultra-scarce-1866-patented-john-h-french-school-slate-with-printed-insert-guides-1","title":"Ultra Scarce 1866 Patented John H. French School Slate with Printed Insert Guides (Hairline Crack)","description":"\u003cp\u003eA 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:  \u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cspan id=\"productTitle\" class=\"a-size-large product-title-word-break\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eElementary Arithmetic for the Slate.\u003c\/em\u003e Of Burlington, VT, French would also go on to patent an \"\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e \u003cspan\u003eimproved 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. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e12 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. \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"critical EYE Finds","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":67835511603454,"sku":null,"price":100.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0015\/5022\/1382\/files\/IMG_9655.png?v=1792427118","url":"https:\/\/www.criticaleyefinds.com\/products\/ultra-scarce-1866-patented-john-h-french-school-slate-with-printed-insert-guides-1","provider":"critical EYE Finds","version":"1.0","type":"link"}