A noctograph is a writing instrument composed of a piece of paper whose underside is treated with printer's ink carbon paper and a metal board with clips to hold the paper in place and guidelines to make for straight writing in the dark. The user writes with a metal stylus, and thus does not have to ink a pen or worry about knocking an inkstand over.

The original purpose was to allow the blind or partially sighted to write with more ease than with a traditional pen, although it has also been used by the fully sighted to write in the dark.[1] It was originally patented by Ralph Wedgwood in 1806.

Notable users

  • William H. Prescott[2] The noctograph that Prescott used to write his many historical volumes is on display at the William Hickling Prescott House (house museum) at 55 Beacon Street, Boston, Massachusetts.
  • James Holman[3]

See also

  • Nyctograph—a card template of square holes invented by Lewis Carroll in 1891 to write in the dark.

References

  1. ↑ W R Wedgewood's advertisement of 1842 - Archived 2017-05-10 at the Wayback Machine
  2. ↑ William H. Prescott - Encyclopædia Britannica v. 14, p. 993. 1974
  3. ↑ "Siberia 19th century to 1890 - extreme tourism".


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