IMPROVEMENTS IN BOOK INDEXES.
Year: 1860

page_text: :
LETTERS PATENT to John William Wallis, of Fenchurch Street, in the
City of London, Stationer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN BOOK
INDEXES.
Sealed the 3rd May 1861, and dated the 9th November 1860.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John William Wallis at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
9th November 1860.
I, JOHN WILLIAM WALLIS, of Fenchurch Street, in the City of London,
Stationer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVE
MENTS IN BOOK INDEXES," to be as follows:-
My Invention is effected in manner following:-I place the letters of the
alphabet on a sheet within the cover of the book, but projecting rather beyond
the leaves, in such manner that when the book is open the alphabet on the
sheet can be seen; I use also an ordinary index alphabet, but instead of printing
or applying the letters on one side of the sheets, I apply them on both sides,
and I affix to every sheet, carrying the letters, a piece of parchment, vellum,
or other suitable stout substance, bring the same off to a point, and fix a
metal eyelet or other like appliance therein. Although I have only referred to
alphabet indexes, the Invention applies to indexes of figures and signs.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said John William Wallis in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
9th May 1861.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
WILLIAM WALLIS, of Fenchurch Street, in the City of London, Stationer, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Ninth day of November, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty, in the twenty-fourth year of Her reign, did,
for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said John
William Wallis, Her special licence that I, the said John William Wallis, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said John William
Wallis, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any
time agree
with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the
term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and
vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN BOOK INDEXES,"
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said John William Wallis,
my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or
their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be
performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office
within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said
Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said John William Wallis, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement thereof, reference being had to the Drawings bereunto annexed, that
is to say-
My Invention is effected in manner following:-I place the letters of the
alphabet on a sheet within the cover of the book, but projecting rather beyond
the leaves, in such manner that when the book is open the alphabet on the
sheet can be seen, or the projecting alphabet may be printed in or fixed to
the inside of the cover, and instead of being on the side the projecting alphabet
may be at the top or bottom, or on both, or all three. I use also an ordinary
index alphabet, but instead of printing or applying the letters on one side of
the sheets, I sometimes apply them on both sides, and I affix to every sheet,

page_text: carrying the letters, a piece of parchment, vellum, or other suitable stout sub-
stance, bring the same off to a point, and fix a metal eyelet or other like
appliance therein. Although I have only referred to alphabet indexes, the
Invention applies to indexes of figures and signs.
Figure 1 of the accompanying Drawings shews a perspective view of a book
closed; and Figure 2, a view of a similar book open fitted with one of my
improved indexes.
1 is the projecting alphabet; 2 is an ordinary index made by cutting
the sheets of which it is formed stepwise in the usual manner; 3, 3, are
the parchment tabs fitted with eyelets and fixed to the ordinary index, as
shown.
And having now described the nature of my said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, I declare that I claim as my improve-
ments in book indexes,-
First, the employment of a fixed projecting alphabet or alphabets in com-
bination with an ordinary stepwise index.
And, second, affixing to every sheet carrying the letters of an ordinary
stepwise index a tab and eyelet, or other like appliance, in manner herein-before
described.
In witness whereof, I, the said John William Wallis, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Ninth day of May, One thousand eight hundred
and sixty-one.
JOHN WILLIAM WALLIS. (L.S.)