Noctograph Explained

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.

Notes and References

1. http://www.ingenious.org.uk/See/?target=SeeLarge&ObjectID={A0F9BB64-46B6-C4CD-30E7-6F98E9DD72B4}&SearchString=Noctograph&source=Search&viewby=images W R Wedgewood's advertisement of 1842 -
2. William H. Prescott - Encyclopædia Britannica v. 14, p. 993. 1974
3. Web site: Siberia 19th century to 1890 - extreme tourism.