This is a great 1863 Civil War Period New England Child School Writing Slate Signed by the child Kate W. Faucon 1863. The slate frame has wood peg mortice and tenon construction and then pegged. One of the tenon? pieces is missing in one corner or was never there originally (hard to tell).

The slate is of solid construction and one of the corners was notched perhaps to hold a string or rawhide leather strip to carry it on the way to school. There is great aging and patina to the wood with a nice smooth surface and feel. There is a small piece of slate missing in one corner or was never there to begin with.

I have had many of these school slates over the years and only a few were signed and dated by the child. This one measures 7 1/2" x 10 3/4".