Blindness History Basics: The First Publication of the Braille Code

Louis Braille’s code lives on today as individuals who are blind and have low vision use his system to read and write for school, work, and leisure. The Dot Experience, APH’s new attraction, celebrates Louis’s accomplishment as it will proudly display his book, which outlines the basics of braille, for all to enjoy. One of only six copies in the world, this rare tome is beautiful to behold. 

About the Book  

Procédé pour écrire les paroles, la musique et le plain-chant au moyen de point, or Method for Writing Words, Music, and Plainsong in Dots, by Louis Braille was published in 1829 by L’Institution Royale Des Jeunes Aveugles (The National Institute for Young Blind People) in Paris, France. Louis’s book was the first explanation of the system he had created to help individuals who are blind or have low vision read and write. The young inventor started developing the code at age twelve and, aided by the school he attended and later taught at, released this work when he was twenty. Printed in one volume of raised type, the text outlines the braille music and literary code along with instructions for writing it. 

How the Book Was Made 

To produce Louis’s book, every page had to be assembled using individual metal types arranged within a rectangular frame known as a chase. The chase was secured into the jaws of a screwtype printing press. Printers dampened the paper before placing it onto a moving table, ensuring the thick sheets, which required a strong and durable impression, performed better in the press. After the table slid into the press, the printshop workers closed it using a long lever for the necessary mechanical advantage. Once opened, they had a single copy of page one. When enough copies were printed, the type for that page was dismantled entirely, and the process began again to set the type for page two.  

Acquiring the Book for APH 

In the fall of 2015, one of the few remaining copies of the Procédé became available from a New York bookseller. APH launched a successful fundraising campaign and added Louis’s text to its collection. On February 11, 2016, APH hosted an unveiling ceremony to recognize donors and highlight the importance of this influential book. 

Former Museum Director, Mike Hudson, noted that the text was in great condition, with a “bright” blue marbled paper cover. He said, “The [thirty-seven] pages are fascinating, illustrating the experimental nature of early embossing for blind readers. The wooden blocks used to set up the page clearly outlined where they were pressed onto wet paper. But the true wonder of the book is found in the elegance of the code, Louis Braille’s original alphabet. It is the same code still found wherever the Roman alphabet is used and has been adapted for many languages—even those such as Chinese, that are character-based rather than alphabet based.” 

Displaying the Book 

After receiving the Procédé, APH created a small exhibit for it in the early education section of the old museum. The display case held Louis’s text in a clear acrylic book cradle, which allowed visitors to view the open book as it rested at an angle to preserve its binding. 

When The Dot Experience opens in 2026, Louis’s book will be on display in our Decoding Braille exhibit next to a life-cast figure of the young inventor. The book will be in a case, with a tactile representation on a ledge below for visitors to touch. Both versions will depict the same page of the text. 

Learn more about historical events and artifacts by reading our Blindness History Basics blog series, and follow The Dot Experience on Facebook to hear the latest news about the attraction.