Description:Rectangular sampler. red wool thread on cream background. Very open weave, coarse material. Alphabet in upper case and lower case, numbers 1 to 10. Maker's name below: 'Ann Handley. 1862'. Four lines of text in total. Ann Handley lived in Rugeley. From the Staffordshire County Museum Collection.
Towards the end of the 18th century, samplers taught not only sewing but also literacy in the forms of alphabets, numerals and religious texts. These grew in importance and became an almost essential part of sampler making throughout the 19th century.