On April 23, people all over the world celebrate the book, its stories, its diversity and its priceless value for education and culture.
So what could be more fitting than taking this special day as an opportunity to explore a very unique form of the book: the Braille book.
It opens up the world of literature to blind and visually impaired readers, which is reason enough to share some fascinating facts and background about its early beginnings.
In the beginning there was the stone
What does a good inventor do first after completing his invention?
Exactly, he explain how it works and how it can be used. That is exactly what Louis Braille did in 1829 when he published his first instruction manual on the Braille writing system.
He had already developed the system in 1825, at the young age of sixteen, in what could be called version 1.0.
However, the book was not written for blind readers, but rather for sighted teachers and instructors. It was printed using embossed Roman letters, allowing sighted people to understand and teach the new dot system.
Astonishingly, the first edition of 1829 contained no Braille symbols at all – not even for illustration. It was purely an explanatory work, comparable to a Rosetta Stone for understanding a tactile writing system.
In 1837, a revised and expanded edition was published, which for the first time included actual Braille characters. With it, Louis was able to prove that his system was not only well thought out in theory but also practically applicable, even for complex subjects such as musical notation.
In 1838, he published an additional supplement dealing with mathematical notation.
Louis Braille is named as the sole author on the title page. Since he was completely blind, it is likely that he dictated the book or wrote it with the help of a sighted assistant. Who exactly helped him is not historically known, so this remains speculation.
The first of its kind
Although not a traditional book in the usual sense, this collection of texts, likely completed sometime between 1829 and 1837, was a true milestone in the history of Braille.
It was probably not written directly by Louis Braille himself, but by teachers at the National Institute for Blind Youth in Paris, possibly in close collaboration with him.
The collection contained a brief summary of French history, focusing on major events and developments, especially in the country’s early history.
Its aim was to demonstrate that Braille could be used not only for single words or short phrases but also for longer, continuous texts.
This made the work a practical trial, proving that Braille could serve as a fully functional writing system for teaching and learning.
Since each page had to be embossed by hand – as Braille printing presses did not yet exist – only a very small number of copies were produced.
At least one surviving copy is preserved today in the Rare Book Collection of the American Foundation for the Blind in the United States. It is quite possible that additional copies exist in French archives or specialist libraries.
Unknown identity
Although many literary classics were translated into Braille fairly early, it is unfortunately not possible to determine with certainty which work was the first full-length novel published entirely in Braille. Due to incomplete historical records, no definitive answer can be given.
Early Braille publications focused primarily on educational texts, religious materials and teaching guides. Works of fiction only gradually entered the Braille world, often without clear documentation of their first editions.
Close the Case
Of course, I can’t let you go without at least one piece of fiction on this special day.
And the best part is: I’m giving the stage to a well-known author – a clever twist, don’t you think?
While researching the topic of Braille books, I happened to come across the Scottish crime author Ian Rankin. In 2009, he launched a small but remarkable campaign advocating for more contemporary literature in Braille.
As part of the initiative, one of his own novels was even published as a Braille edition.
You can find more about this in the YouTube videos linked below.
Braille 200 wishes you all a tingling World Book Day – full of stories to feel as well as read.
Moritz Wolfart, 23.04.2025
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