Example of an early 19th century Writing sheet or School piece, a folio sheet bordered with coloured illustrations, with a blank centre inscribed with homilies on Time in Susanna Gearing's best handwriting

Ornamental writing blanks were an alternative to the copy book and were generally intended, once completed by the child, to be presented as a gift to parents at Christmas or other times. The sheets were printed with a border of illustrations which as in this example tell a story from the Bible, or could display scenes of daily life, rural activity or whatever else the printer had in stock and might choose to use.

These could then be sold plain or uncoloured, or coloured for the child to fill in the blank central portion with their best handwriting. This sheet is illustrated with the story of Joseph's exaltation from Genesis, Chapter 41^st, Verse 43.

Susanna Gearing has added the following texts, in three sizes, in her best copperplate writing:

'Make a proper use of your time,

For it can never be recalled.

______________________

The memorials of your passing years,

Will bear testimony, either for, or

Against you when for your actions you

Must give account to God.

______________________

Short is our longest day of life,

And soon its prospect ends;

Yet on that day's uncertain date,

Eternity depends.'

______________________

This sheet is dated 1810, but could have been printed later as sometimes the printing blocks had a long life.

Heal, Ambrose, Sir The English writing-masters and their copy-books, 1570-1800: a biographical dictionary & a bibliography Hildesheim: Olms, 1962

Carpenter, Humphrey The Oxford companion to children's literature Oxford [Oxfordshire]; New York: Oxford University Press, 1984

John Johnson Collection Exhibition 2001: Juvenilia. Writing blank: Rural employment

John Johnson Collection exhibition 2001: Cries, itinerants and services: The cries of London [writing blank]