horn book
A form of child's primer used in England from the
15th century, and in the United States at a later
time. The earliest examples were made from
'wainscot" (thin panels of oak) and had a label
containing the alphabet, simple spelling, numbers.
and the Lord's prayer pasted on the wood and
covered with a thin, transparent veneer of cattle
horn. A wooden handle was attached to the frame.
In latter examples the back of the panel was
covered with morocco or roan leather blocked with
an ornamental device. Other, but rare, examples
were made entirely of cowhide with a window cut in
the upper portion. See PLATE 11. (104 , 156 , 183 )
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