The Book of Esther and the Book of Ruth for the Blind – Philadelphia, 1838

The Book of Esther and the Book of Ruth for the Blind – Philadelphia, 1838
The Books of Ruth and Esther in one volume. Philadelphia: The Pennsylvania Institution for the Instruction of the Blind, 1838. English.
The Books of Esther and Ruth in English. The book was printed in raised type for use by the blind. This printing system, known as the Boston Line Type, was commonly used before the Braille system, invented in France, was adopted in the United States.
The book was published by Julius Reinhold Friedlander (1803-1838), founder and director of the Pennsylvania Institution for the Instruction of the Blind, which he established in 1832.
Dedication on first leaf printed in raised type (English): "Presented to Thomas S. Kirkbride, M. D. by the Pennsylvania Institution for the Instruction of the Blind... Phild'a, May, 1838". Thomas Story Kirkbride (1809-1883), physician and psychiatrist, native of Pennsylvania; a pioneer in the field of mental health.
Friedlander, a German educator of Jewish origin, native of Prussia, acquired an education in the field of instruction of the blind in Europe, and upon immigrating to Philadelphia, introduced innovative teaching methods. During his tenure as director of the Institution for the Instruction of the Blind, he succeeded in increasing the student body, and published the first book in raised type in America (the Gospel of Mark), and the first magazine for the blind in North America, Lux ex Tenebris (Light from the Darkness).
Friedlander died shortly after this book was published, at the young age of 35, after serving as director of the institution for six years. The institution he founded exists until this day under the name Overbrook School for the Blind.
[4], 3-14, 32 pages. 30 cm. Landscape format. Good condition. Minor stains. Minor marginal creases and tears. Binding slightly worn, with minor tears. Open tear to spine.
Rare. Only one copy recorded in OCLC.