During the Civil War-era, especially in the South, paper was both scarce and expensive. In its place slates, such as the ones recovered from the SS Republic, were used by students as writing tablets. It is documented that many French Creole children had such a desire to learn they would walk miles to attend school equipped with their own prized book and slate.
Each one unique, the pieces were mined in Northwest Wales and are a beautiful blue-gray color known as “Old Vein”. The 61 recovered from the SS Republic wreck site were shipped upright in wooden crates, with remnants still scattered about the sea floor as seen in the recovery image above.
SS Republic Writing Slate
$300.00Price