Guide to chirology. Watford, H.Ash. 18-?

Harry Ash (1863-1934) perhaps produced this pamphlet initially in the late1880s or the 1890s.  A pencil note on the first page says ‘Design at 24.  “X” marked on each.’  If this is a note by Ash, it would suggest that those parts were designed in 1887/8.  It is interesting that Ash, who, in his last five months at school had taught himself French while the other boys were sleeping, revived the term ‘chirology’ that was used by Bulwer.

I have scanned the whole document as a pdf here – Guide to Chirology.  It is very much of its time and has stereotypes we would avoid today.

The manual alphabet (Irish, American, French &c). For the deaf and dumb. H. Ash London, 18? [The style of the card suggests a date in the late 19^th Century, possibly ca 1887/8]

Harry Ash (1863-1934) was born in Bridgewater, Somerset.  He was deafened by scarlet fever aged 18 months.  His father was a railway coach-maker who moved to Swindon to find work.  Harry was sent to the London Asylum in the Old Kent Road when he was 11, later moving on to the Margate branch of the school.  He was for a time a designer at the Hogarth Works, Chiswick.

It is possible to follow something of his life by using the census and various documents published in his lifetime.