Improvements in and Connected with Envelopes, Letter Sheets, Advertising Circulars, and the like.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 16th Aug., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 14th May, 1889-Accepted, 13th July, 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and Connected with Envelopes, Letter Sheets,
Advertising Circulars, and the like.
I, JAMES FERGUSON, of 18 Colquhoun Square, Helensburgh, Dumbartonshire,
Joiner, do hereby declare the nature of my Invention to be as follows:-
This Invention has reference to and comprises certain new or improved modes of
cutting, and folding individual sheets of paper and gumming the parts so as to form
closed up letters or advertising circulars, forming their own envelopes, or as envelopes
with the greatest possible utilization of the paper for writing or printing and adver-
tising on the enclosed parts of the paper, and greater convenience of gumming and
folding, and re-opening when sealed up.
The nature and novelty of the improvements consist all as follows:-
Under one arrangement as applied to and forming a whole double sheet of ordinary
post paper and for being used in ordinary note paper size, to be afterwards folded up
as a letter in about one eighth of the original size, the sheet of paper is folded up
into eight parts, and opened up in the longest direction, which would preferably form
the vertical direction for use in writing or printing on. The upper eighth on the left
hand side would be separated from the upper eighth on the right hand side by a
narrow slip cut away between them in the vertical centre fold, and this upper eight on
the left hand side would be gummed all round its two vertical sides and upper edge, to
form the last closing-in fold of the letter and inside of the back of the letter or
envelope. The second eighth below this on the left hand side would have the address
and postage stamp on its outer surface, and have a securing ear left along its left hand
edge, with the upper and lower corners cut away, which would be the last part folded
down over the other quarters, folded in under it for the upper quarter to be gummed
down against along its left hand edge. This ear would be left projecting beyond the
edge on its left hand side of the upper eighth, and the two lower eighths. The second
eighth on the right hand side would have a broad strip cut out of it over the fold at
its lower edge, separating it from the two lower eighths on the right hand side; and
the upper eighth would fold down over this second eighth, and have a strip cut off its
upper edge equal to the strip cut off the lower edge. In this way nearly the whole
half of the sheet, or four eighths at the lower side, would form a double sheet, as
it were, of note paper, and might be all utilized for writing on both surfaces, leaving
a whole half of the sheet for this purpose as a letter capable of being separated from
the rest. While the upper two eighths on the right hand side might be utilized on
both its surfaces for printing and advertising, and the inner surface of the two-eighths
on the left hand side also, giving three-eighths of the whole paper for printing or
advertising purposes. The whole would be closed up by folding the right hand lower
quarter over on the left hand quarter, and then folding this horizontally in the centre;
and then folding these four-eighths up over the second eighth on the left hand side,
when the top eighth on the right hand side of the sheet would be folded down over the
second eighth on the right hand side below it, and these two eighths then folded over
to the left over the previous four-eights; and have the doubled ear of the second
eighth on the left hand side folded over on it to secure it down; when the upper
eighth on the left hand side with its three gummed edges would then be folded down
over the whole, and gummed down over the single ear on the left hand side, and also
down over the right hand side and lower edges thus closing in the whole of the folded
in parts before described leaving no open edges whatever, this arrangement only
requiring one closing in ear. This arrangement is also susceptive of being used all as
described by dispensing with the upper eighth on the right hand side or it might be
by dispensing with both the first and second eighths on the right hand side and

page_text: forming a folding in ear on the right hand edge of the second eighth the same as on
the left hand side of the sheet, which would close in the four lower eighths when
folded up and have both doubled-in ears secured by the gummed right and left edges
of the upper eighth when that was folded over and gummed down, while its lower
gummed edge would secure the whole as before described without leaving any free
edges. When these upper eighths on the right hand side were dispensed with, the
two lower eighths on the left hand side might be utilized on both surfaces for printing
or advertising purposes leaving the two eighths or whole single sheet of note paper on
the right hand side free for writing purposes on both surfaces; as the letter capable of
removal from the rest of the sheet. When desired, the whole, or the three upper
or the four eighths on the left hand side only may be used for printing or advertising
purposes as a circular forming its own envelope with the ears on both sides of the
address eighth of the sheet or as an advertising envelope for enclosing a separate
letter, account or invoice; and instead of paper, cloth or other sheet material might
be used for forming this letter or envelope.
Dated the 19th of Aunt 1000
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and Connected with Envelopes, Letter Sheets,
Advertising Circulars, and the like.
I JAMES FERGUSON of 18 Colquhoun Square Helensburgh in the County of
Dumbarton, Joiner, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement :—
This Invention has reference to, and comprises certain new or improved modes of
cutting and folding individual sheets of paper or other sheet material, and gumming
the parts so as to form closed up letters or advertising circulars forming their own
envelopes with the greatest possible utilization of the paper for writing or printing on
the parts, or as envelopes of any proportions or size for enclosing a separate letter,
circular or other enclosure, within its written or printed parts. My Invention is
illustrated by the accompanying Drawings. Figure 1. shews a sheet laid flat in one
plane. The dotted lines + shew where the folds occur in folding up the sheet as a
letter. The parts marked A. B. C. forms the body of the envelope as it were, and the
parts D. E. F. G. H. makes up the rest of the sheet. The part A with two rounded
or sloped corners is the closing flap having three gummed or partly gummed free
edges and forms the inside of the back of the letter or envelope. The part B forms
the inside of the address and stamp part, and has a securing ear e on its left hand
edge. S is a narrow strip cut out of the sheet between the parts A and E to allow
the part E to be folded. S S is a broader strip cut out of the sheet between the
parts F and G to facilitate folding and to allow the upper gummed edge of the
closing flap A to be secured to the part C when closed. The parts A and B can
have writing printing or advertiseing matter on one side, and the parts CDEFGH
can be utilized on both sides. Any or all of the parts D E F G H may be dispensed
with if required, only when the part F is dispensed with, I form a securing ear in its
stead on the right hand edge of the part B like to the securing ear e on the left
hand edge of the part B afore described. In folding the sheet I fold the parts G
and H to the left on top of the parts C and D, the parts D and H are then together
folded upwards on top of the parts C and G, these four parts C. D. G. H are then
together folded upwards on top of the part B, the part E is then folded downwards
on top of the part F, the parts E and F are then together folded to the left on top
of all on B, the secureing ear e is then folded to the right on top of these, the closing
flap A is then folded downwards on top of all, its three gummed edges thoroughly
secureing the letter or envelope. As the gummed upper edge of the closeing flap A is
secured to the part C and the gummed right and left edges of the closeing flap A

page_text: secures the ears or folded parts under it, and the closing flap A being about the size of
the back of the letter or envelope it covers and encloses all writing or printing &c.
that can be on any of the folded in parts and so forms the back of the letter or
envelope as shewn in Figure 2.
When extra security is required in the envelope, the securing ears may also be
gummed. And for convenience of opening the envelope or letter, the closeing flap
may be perforated.
When additional space is required for writing or printing on, I provide for same as
shewn in Figure 1 by the parts marked 1. 2. 3. 4. enclosed in broken lines
on left
of the parts A. B. . D. similar to the parts E. F. G. H on the right hand side.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said Inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is.
First. The new or improved envelope "with or without a letter or circular. sheet
combined" having the closing flap about the size of the letter or envelope substantially
as described and illustrated in the Drawings herewith.
Second. The use of paper or other sheet material of any proportions or size and of
shape and modifications substantially as described and illustrated in the Drawings
herewith.
Dated this 12th dow of Mor 1880
JAMES FERGUSON,
Applicant.