We are pleased to offer a rare and interesting medical diagnostic reference, a 1959 edition of Tests for Colour Blindness signed by the author, Dr. Shinobu Ishihara (1879–1963), a pioneering Japanese ophthalmologist best known for developing the Ishihara Test, a groundbreaking diagnostic tool used worldwide to detect color vision deficiencies.
First introduced in 1917, the test consists of a series of plates printed with colored dots that form numbers or paths—visible only to those with normal color vision. The simplicity and accuracy of the test made it an immediate success, and it remains the global standard for detecting red-green color blindness over a century later.
Each plate in the test exploits the differences in color perception, allowing doctors to quickly assess whether someone has a color vision deficiency and, if so, its type and severity. Ishihara’s work not only advanced the field of ophthalmology but also contributed to better safety and accessibility standards in education, the military, and the workplace.