Alphabet block:Hill's Alphabet Blocks No.48

Though the concept of alphabet blocks dates from the 17th century, in the 1850s, S. L. Hill of New York City became the first American manufacturer to produce the blocks in mass quantity. The company began making alphabet blocks, but by the 1860s expanded its repertoire to include building blocks. Toy blocks have great educational value, encouraging physical, social, intellectual, and creative development, and S. L. Hill became one of the first American toy makers to capitalize on these benefits.