Published between about 1660 and 1850, these highly ephemeral “school pieces” were increasingly popular in the second half of the eighteenth century, when they were published in large numbers, a development contemporary with the expansion of the children’s book trade. Children’s booksellers began to issue writing sheets at this time; popular printsellers continued to do so. For some surviving sheets, the engraver and / or the writing master responsible for the design can be identified, although in many cases the former would be the printseller or one of his craftsmen. (via BibliOdyssey: Writing Blanks)
