Notice how the two chaps portrayed on the top are both called 'abbé'—coincidence? No. Monastic communities had been championing sign language for centuries.

What is the date of the early image, Ben?

Mike Gulliver’s speciality, though Sicard and D’L’Epee are central figures even I know about. The relationship between the French state and deaf schools is fascinating and the contrast with the U.K. and the US is really quite something.