Improved Indexes for Atlases.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 4th Mar., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 3rd Dec., 1890-Accepted, 14th Feb., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Indexes for Atlases.
We, GEORGE WASHINGTON BACON of 127 Strand in the County of Middlesex,
Map Publisher, and THOMAS BEST of 68 Hercules Buildings Kennington in the
County of Surrey Clerk do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
Our invention relates to indexes for atlases for facilitating reference to any
particular map, plate or page.
And
In applying our invention to an atlas of the world we arrange certain maps
which we call key-maps at the commencement or end of the volume. The said
key-maps may consist of the continents of the world or of any other general maps
of the volume, in order that such general maps may serve as a key or reference
index to the more detailed maps of the volume which include the same area.
this general principle is equally applicable to any other atlases. Each of the said
general or key-maps has printed upon it, usually in the margin, and on the right
hand side, the names of such other maps in the atlas as refer to the area shown in
the said key-maps and opposite each name of such maps the folio or number of the
map in the atlas; thus the divisional maps can be instantly referred to without
turning back to the general letterpress index.
The said key-maps are then cut as a thumb-index similar to that in account books
and upon the said thumb index is printed so as to be visible without opening the
key-maps, the name or title of each of the key-maps in said index, and in some
cases we also print the name or names of the principal countries shown on each of
said key-maps. As the cutting of the thumb-index only extends to these key or
index maps the fore-edge of the volume is not cut into sufficiently to disfigure it.
Our invention further consists in cutting the thumb-index before referred to,
upon the bottom edge of the atlas instead of upon the fore-edge as usual, but in
such cases it is preferable not to let the cuts extend to the fore-edge.
Each key-map or general map may also be bound immediately preceding the
divisional maps to which it refers and each thumb-cut may extend to the whole of
the general and divisional maps of one country.
Or the entire index may be bound separately instead of with the volume to which
it refers or belongs.
D
CML 1900
G. W. BACON.
THOMAS BEST.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Indexes for Atlases.
We GEORGE WASHINGTON BACON of 127 Strand, in the County of Middlesex,
Map Publisher, and THOMAS BEST of 68 Hercules Buildings, Kennington in the
County of Surrey, Clerk, 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 reference being had to the accompanying drawing
forming part of this Specification
:-
Our invention relates to indexes for atlases for facilitating reference to any
particular map, plate or page.
In applying our invention to an atlas of the world, we arrange or group together
certain maps which we call key-maps, either at the commencement or end of the
[Price 1

page_text: Figure 1 represents an atlas with our invention applied thereto showing the front
cover thrown back, thus exposing the thumb index, cut at the fore-edge of the
volume.
Figure 2 is a similar view showing the thumb index cut at the bottom edge.
Figure 3 is an enlarged view of a portion of the thumb index with the names on
the thumb spaces.
Figure 4 is an enlarged view of a portion of the margin of one of the key-maps
showing the "marginal reference."
Like letters indicate like parts in all the figures.
"
"
Figure 1 illustrates our invention applied to an atlas in which the key maps are
bound at the commencement of the volume. These key-maps are cut with a thumb
index "A at the fore-edge of the volume, the cuts forming the said index
extending to only seventeen maps. On each thumb piece or exposed portion "a
of the key-maps, is printed or affixed the name or title of the said key-map as
shown in Figure 3, and upon the margin of each of the said key-maps is printed or
affixed the "marginal reference" hereinbefore described as shown at c in Figure 4.
In some cases a certain name or names comprised in the "marginal reference
may be also printed on the thumb piece a as shown at b Figure 3.
"
C
Figure 2 shows the thumb index cut at the bottom edge of the volume, showing
also a smaller number of key-maps the same principle of thumb cut index and
"marginal references," as shown in Figures 1, 3 and 4 being applied thereto.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is
An improved index for atlases consisting of the combination of the key or general

page_text: plates or maps of the volume, the thumb-cut or marginal index and the "marginal
references" substantially as described.
THOMAS BEST.
G. W. BACON.