IMPROVE- MENTS IN BANKERS' CHEQUES AND OTHER MONETARY INSTRUMENTS IN ORDER TO PREVENT FRAUD OR TO FACILITATE THE DETECTION OF FRAUD PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alfred Anthony Nesbit, of No. 38, Gracechurch Street,
in the City of London, Analytical Chemist, for an Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN BANKERS' CHEQUES AND OTHER MONETARY INSTRUMENTS IN
ORDER TO PREVENT FRAUD OR TO FACILITATE THE DETECTION OF FRAUD
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alfred Anthony Nesbit at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 28th May 1880.
ALFRED ANTHONY NESBIT, of No. 38, Gracechurch Street, in the City of
London, Analytical Chemist. "IMPROVEMENTS IN BANKERS' CHEQUES AND OTHER
MONETARY INSTRUMENTS IN ORDER TO PREVENT FRAUD OR TO FACILITATE THE
DETECTION OF FRAUD BY THE ALTERATION OF THE SAID INSTRUMENTS."
The object of my Invention is to prevent fraudulent alterations, or to facilitate
the detection of fraudulent alterations, of bankers' cheques and other monetary
instruments, which alterations are usually effected by the removal by chemical
means of the writing or part of the writing thereon. In thus altering the said
instruments it is generally necessary to use at some stage of the process either an
acid or an alkaline solution, and my said Invention consists principally in printing
the said instruments with dyes or on paper stained with dyes, the colour of which
in contact with acids is different to that produced by contact with alkalies, the dye
or dyes on parts of the said instruments (when the printing thereof is completed)
When an
being acid, and the dye or dyes on the other parts being alkaline.
instrument thus printed is treated with an alkaline solution the whole of the dye
or dyes becomes alkaline, and when treated with an acid solution the whole
becomes acid, and by the effect thus produced on the colour of the inscription, or
part thereof, or of the paper, the fact of the instrument having been so treated is
made plainly apparent. According to one method of carrying out my Invention I
use ordinary paper and print on it the required inscriptions or marks partly with
an acid ink and partly with an alkaline ink, the same colouring matter being used
for both inks. The colouring matter which I prefer to use is that known in
commerce as "eocene," but any other dye or dyes having the properties hereinbefore

page_text: stated may be used. When a cheque thus printed is treated with a solution which
is alkaline or acid the whole of the printing is reduced to the same colour.
Instead of using the same colouring matter for both the alkaline ink and the acid
ink a different colouring matter may be used for each ink.
According to another method of carrying out my Invention, I use paper coloured
or stained with acid, "eocene," or other suitable dye, and I print thereon with a
colourless ink, containing free alkali, or an alkaline carbonate, or I use paper
coloured or stained with such a dye made alkaline, and print thereon with a
colourless acid ink, the effect in the first case being to produce an inscription in the
colour of the alkaline dye, on a ground of the colour of the acid dye, and in the
second vice versa. When a cheque thus printed is treated with a solution of either
an alkali or an acid, the difference between the colour of the printing and that of
the ground is destroyed, and the printed inscription is consequently effaced or
rendered illegible. Instead of printing on the stained or dyed paper with a
colourless ink the inscription may be printed thereon with an ink coloured with
the same dye as that used for the paper, the said ink containing free alkali, or
alkaline carbonate if the paper be stained with an acid dye, and containing acid if
the paper be stained with an alkaline dye.
Instead of using colouring matters or dyes the colour of which is apparent both
in contact with acids, and in contact with alkalies, those may be used the colour of
which is apparent only when they are in contact with an acid, or those the colour
of which is apparent only when they are in contact with an alkali. Cheques
printed as hereinbefore described may be written on with as much facility as those
printed in the ordinary manner.
My Invention consists further in printing inscriptions or marks on the said
instruments, partly as herein before described, and partly in ordinary printer's ink,
or other ink which cannot be removed or obliterated from the paper on which it is
printed, the said inks being so printed that the marks or inscriptions are composed
of fine lines, or lettering of the said "eocene" or other dye, alternating with lines
or lettering of printer's ink, the printing being effected in a machine of very
delicate registration. The effect of this is, that should all the coloured part of the
printed inscription be removed, it wouid be practically impossible to reprint the
said coloured part, even if blocks or plates were made with sufficient accuracy.
If desired, two or more of the processes herein before described may be combined
in the printing of one cheque or other like instrument.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Alfred Anthony Nesbit in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
27th November 1880.
ALFRED ANTHONY NESBIT, of No. 38, Gracechurch Street, in the City of
London, Analytical Chemist. "IMPROVEMENTS IN BANKERS' CHEQUES AND OTHER
MONETARY INSTRUMENTS IN ORDER TO PREVENT FRAUD OR TO FACILITATE THE
DETECTION OF FRAUD BY THE ALTERATION OF THE SAID INSTRUMENTS."
The object of my Invention is to prevent fraudulent alterations, or to facilitate
the detection of fraudulent alterations, of banker's cheques and other monetary
instruments, which alterations are usually effected by the removal by chemical
means of the writing or part of the writing thereon. In thus altering the said
instruments it is generally necessary to use at some stage of the process either an
acid or an alkaline solution, and my said Invention consists principally in printing
the said instruments with dyes, or on paper stained with dyes, the colour of which
in contact with acids is different to that produced by contact with alkalies, the dye
or dyes on parts of the said instruments (when the printing thereof is completed)
being acid, and the dye or dyes on the other parts being alkaline. When an
instrument thus printed is treated with an alkaline solution the whole of the dye
or dyes becomes alkaline, and when treated with an acid solution the whole
becomes acid, and by the effect thus produced on the colour of the inscription, or
part thereof, or of the paper, the fact of the instrument having been so treated is
made plainly apparent.
Any dye or colouring matter having the property or properties hereinbefore
stated may be used. The dies known in commerce as eocine, litmus, and alkaline
blue are suitable for the purpose.
According to one method of carrying out my Invention I use ordinary paper,
and print on it the required inscriptions or marks partly with an acid ink and
partly with an alkaline ink, the same colouring matter being used for both
inks.
are
The acid I prefer to use is oxalic acid. The alkalies I prefer to use
bi-carbonate of soda and potash for a weak alkaline ink or solution, and caustic
soda for a strong alkaline ink or solution, the strength of the acid or of the alkuli
being reduced as required by dilution.
When a cheque thus printed is treated with a solution which is alkaline or acid
the whole of the printing is reduced to the same colour.
Instead of using the same colouring matter for both the alkaline ink and the
acid ink, a different colouring matter may be used for each ink.
According to another method of carrying out my Invention, I use paper coloured
or stained with an acid dye, and I print thereon with a colourless ink or solution
O containing free alkali or an alkaline carbonate; or I use paper coloured or stained
with such a dye made alkaline, and print thereon with a colourless acid ink or
solution, the effect in the first case being to produce an inscription in the colour of
the alkaline dye on a ground of the colour of the acid dye, and in the second case
vice versa. When a cheque thus printed is treated with a solution of either an
5 alkali or an acid, the difference between the colour of the printing and that of the
ground is destroyed, and the printed inscription is consequently effaced or rendered
illegible.
Instead of printing on the stained or dyed paper with a colourless ink or solution,
the inscription may be printed thereon with an ink or solution coloured with the
0 same dye as that used for the paper, or with any other suitable dye, the said ink

page_text: containing free alkali or alkaline carbonate if the paper be stained with an acid dye,
and containing acid if the paper be stained with an alkaline dye.
Instead of printing cheques so that the dye or dyes on parts thereof may be acid
and that or those on other parts alkaline, they may be so printed that the dye or
dyes on parts may be neutral, and that or those on other parts either acid or
alkaline; or they may be so printed that the dye or dyes on all parts may be acid,
the dye or dyes on the different parts being of different degrees of acidity; or the
cheques may be so printed that the dye or dyes on all parts may be alkaline,
the dye or dyes on different parts being of different degrees of alkalinity. In
printing cheques according to the two methods herein before last described, dyes
should be used the colours of which vary considerably in depth or strength, according
to the strength of the acid or of the alkali used. Dyes which, like litimus, do not
change materially in colour or depth of colour when in contact with different
strengths of acid, or when in contact with different strengths of alkali, are not
suitable for the purpose.
Instead of using colouring matters or dyes the colour of which is apparent both
in contact with acids and in contact with alkalies, those may be used the colour of
which is apparent only when they are in contact with an acid, or those the colour
of which is apparent only when they are in contact with an alkali.
In all cases the printing should be so effected as to render it impossible by
chemical means to remove, or alter, and restore the colour on one part, without
simultaneously affecting the colour on other parts. This may be done by printing
lines or other marks or inscriptions in acid, ink, solution, or dye of one colour or
shade of colour, over or in close proximity to lines or other marks or inscriptions,
printed in alkaline, ink solution, or dye of another colour or shade of colour.
by printing acid ink solutions, or dyes on paper, the whole surface of which is
stained with an alkaline dye or vice versa.
Or
Many combinations may be produced by the use of one dye or colouring matter
on plain paper printed from two blocks. As an illustration, I will describe the
combinations which may be produced by using litmus as the colouring matter.
I will suppose the two blocks to be one, the cheque block or block on which the
inscription is engraved, and the other a block engraved with a device such as fine
lines suitable for the ground or plain part of the cheque. The following are the
combinations which may be thus produced.
1. A blue lined ground with white lettering interlined with pink may be
produced by printing on plain paper, first, from the lined block with alkaline litmus,
and secondly, from the cheque block with acid colourless ink.
2. A blue lined ground with pink lettering may be produced by printing, first,
from the lined block, with alkaline litmus, and secondly, from the cheque block
with acid litmus.
3. A blue lined ground with pink lettering with blue lines may be produced by
printing, first, from the cheque block with acid litmus, and secondly, from the lined
block with strong alkaline litmus.
4. Pink lettering with blue lines on a plain paper ground may be produced by
printing, first, from the cheque block with acid litmus, and secondly, from the lined 4
block with strong colourless alkaline ink.
5. A pink lined ground with white lettering with blue lines may be produced
by printing, first, from the lined block with acid litmus, and secondly, from the
cheque block with colourless alkaline ink.
6. A. pink lined ground with blue lettering may be produced by printing, first, 5
from the lined block with acid litmus, and secondly, from the cheque block with
alkaline litmus.
7. A pink lined ground with blue lettering and pink lines may be produced by
printing, first, from the cheque book with alkaline litmus, and secondly, from the
lined block with strong acid litmus.
8. Blue lettering with pink lines, on a ground of plain paper, may be produced
5

page_text: by printing, first, from the cheque block with alkaline litmus, and secondly, from
the lined block with strong acid colourless ink.
By using a paper stained with litmus, and printing on it with one block, two
combinations may be produced:-1. With a paper stained with alkaline litmus
and printed with colourless acid ink, a blue ground with a red inscription are
produced. 2. With a paper stained with acid litmus and printed with alkaline
colourless ink, a red ground with a blue inscription are produced.
Instead of printing cheques, according to my Invention, on plain paper, or on
paper stained or coloured with dyes of the kind herein before described, paper may
be used, the colour of which will be totally destroyed by acids or by alkalies, thus
an ordinary foolscap paper coloured blue with ultramarine may be printed, first,
from the cheque block with acid litmus, and secondly, from the lined block with
alkaline litmus, thus producing a pink inscription crossed with blue lines on a blue
ground.
Any or all of the cheques printed, as herein before described, if treated with an
alkali or an acid, or with an alkaline or acid solution, will be so altered as to
render it evident that they have been so treated, and their original appearance
cannot be restored except by reprinting them from the original blocks, or from other
blocks exactly corresponding with them.
My Invention consists, further, in printing inscriptions or marks on the said
instruments partly by any one or more of the methods herein before described, and
partly in ordinary printer's ink, or other ink which cannot be removed from the
paper on which it is printed, the said inks being so printed that the marks or
incriptions are composed of fine lines or lettering of the said dye alternating with
lines or lettering of printer's ink, the printing being effected in a machine of very
delicate " registration." The effect of this is that should all the coloured part of
the printed inscription be removed from a cheque, it would be practically impossible
to reprint the said coloured part, even if blocks or plates were made with sufficient
accuracy, or even if the block with which the coloured part was originally printed
were used.
If desired two or more of the processes hereinbefore described may be combined
in the printing of one cheque, or other like instrument.
Cheques printed in any of the ways herein before described, may be written on
with as much facility as those printed in the ordinary manner.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention and the manner in which it
is to be performed, I wish it to be understood that I make no claim to the use of
any special dye or dyes, but I claim as my Invention of "Improvements in
Bankers' Cheques and other Monetary Instruments in Order to Prevent Fraud or
to Facilitate the Detection of Fraud by the Alteration of the said Instruments."
First. Printing the said instruments with acids or alkalies or both, or with acid
or alkaline inks or solutions of different strengths, the said acids or alkalies or inks
or solutions being used in conjunction with a dye or dyes or colouring matter or
matters having the properties hereinbefore described, or printing the said instru-
ments with acids or alkalies or both, or with acid or alkaline inks or solutions of
different strengths, either alone or in conjunction with such dyes on paper stained,
coloured, or printed with such dyes, the printing of the said instruments with the
said dye or dyes or acids or alkalies or inks or solutions being in either case so
effected as to render impossible the chemical treatment of those parts of the
instruments printed or stained with the acid, dye, or with solutions or inks of a
low degree of acidity or alkalinity, without obviously affecting those parts printed
or stained with the alkaline, dye, or with the solutions or inks of a higher degree
of acidity or alkalinity, or vice versa, essentially as and for the purpose hereinbefore
described.
Secondly. Printing the said instruments partly as herein before described and
claimed in the preceding claim, and partly with ordinary printer's ink or other ink
which cannot be removed by chemical means from the paper on which it is printed,

page_text: the printing being so effected that the marks produced by the said ink shall
alternate with those produced by or on the aforesaid dye or dyes, essentially as and
for the purpose herein before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alfred Anthony Nesbit, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-seventh day of November, in the year of our a
Lord One thousand eight hundred and eighty.
A. ANTHONY NESBIT, F.C.S: (L.S.)