IMPROVEMENTS IN POSTAL CARDS
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Chapman, of New Bridge Street, Blackfriars, in
the County of Middlesex, Merchant, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
POSTAL CARDS." A communication from abroad by Frank W. Brooks, of
New York, United States of America.
Sealed the 2nd July 1878, and dated the 11th January 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Chapman at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 11th January 1878.
GEORGE CHAPMAN, of New Bridge Street, Blackfriars, in the County of Mid-
dlesex, Merchant. "IMPROVEMENTS IN POSTAL CARDS." (A communication from
abroad by Frank W. Brooks, of New York, United States of America.)
This Invention relates to improvements in the arrangement of postal cards,
whereby the original card used by the sender serves as a postal card for the
receiver to return to the sender with his reply thereon. For this purpose the
face of the postal card is so arranged that the sender can write the address of
the party to whom it is addressed on one part thereof, a space being left for
the receiver to write the address of the sender when returning the reply to his
communication.
Sufficient space is also left for two postage stamps, one for the sender and the
other for the return reply.
This improved postal card is formed in two parts, the outer or back part being
BO arranged that the receiver can separate the written communication from the
front part, the back surface of the front portion of the postal card being left
plain for him to write his reply thereon.
In place of having a double postal card as previously described, a single card
De R71

page_text: may be employed, the surfaces being so arranged that the written communication
of the sender may be separated or removed by the receiver, his reply being written
upon the space left blank upon the postal card for that purpose.
In place of two postage stamps one may be used of sufficient amount to cover
the return postage, and so placed as to be cancelled on the top for sending, and on
the bottom for the return.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said George Chapman in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 11th July
1878.
GEORGE CHAPMAN, of New Bridge Street, Blackfriars, in the County of Mid-
dlesex, Merchant. "IMPROVEMENTS IN POSTAL CARDS." (A communication from
abroad by Frank W. Brooks, of New York, United States of America.)
This Invention relates to improvements in the arrangement of postal cards,
whereby the original card used by the sender serves as a postal card for the receiver
to return to the sender with his reply thereon. For this purpose the face of the
return postal card is so arranged that the sender can write the address of the party
to whom it is addressed on one part thereof, a space being left for the receiver to
write the address of the sender when returning the reply to his communication.
Sufficient space is also left for two postage stamps, one for the sender and the
other for the return reply.
This improved postal card is formed in two parts, the outer or back part being
so arranged that the receiver can separate the written communication from the
front part, the back surface of the front portion of the postal card being thus left
plain for him to write his reply thereon.
In place of having a double postal card as previously described, a single card
may be employed, the surfaces being so arranged that the written communication
of the sender may be separated or removed by the receiver, his reply being written
upon the space left blank upon the postal card for that purpose.
In place of two postage stamps one may be used to cover the return postage, and
so placed as to be cancelled on the top for sending, and on the bottom for return.
The objects of the Invention are to provide for the free return of a postal card
through the post office, with a reply written upon it so as to enable the first sender
to obtain a prompt answer without trouble or expense to the party addressed, and
without complicating the work of arranging post marking, and distributing the
cards in the post office, and also to provide for the retention of the first message by
the party receiving it, and to provide for each writer a message blank of the entire
area of the card. To this end the Invention consists in constructing a return postal
card with a removable back, either by making it of readily separable card, two-
ply paper, or by applying an additional thickness of paper to constitute said

page_text: removable back, a stamp or stamps representing postage two ways, and any other
matter which may be required being printed on the face of the card with blanks
for both addresses and two post marks.
Referring to the accompanying Drawings,-
Figure 1 is a face view of one form of return postal card unwritten upon.
Figure 2 is a back view of the same after it has passed through the post office
once.
Figure 3 is a face view of the same card as returned to the original sender.
Figure 4 is a face view of another return postal card.
Figure 5 is a back view, and Figures 6, 7, and 8 are diagrams of single sheets from
which return postal cards may be made, the same illustrating certain modifications
of this Invention.
Figures 9 and 10 show other modes of arranging the addresses and stamps.
Like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several Figures.
This return postal card consists essentially of two parts A, B, which are preferably
the laminae of Bristol board or analogous thick paper, so calendered or otherwise
separately hardened, and so united in the subsequent stages of the process of manu-
facture that the double paper card will split upon the insertion of a knife blade or
finger nail between the parts, and so that one or both of the new surfaces thus
exposed can be written upon.
The new card may be of the same size and shape as those now in use, or of any
peculiar size or shape, and the two parts of each card may be of the same or
different colours.
A card of the above description is shown in Figures 1, 2, and 3.
The two-part card may be made in other and analogous ways which are illustrated
in Figures 4 to 10, inclusive.
Figure 4 is intended in part to represent a card made of two sheets of ordinary
thin Bristol board or other suitable paper or cardboard, united by means of pasted
or cemented edges z.
Figure 5 represents the combination of a back of thin paper with a face part of
cardboard.
Figures 6, 7, 8, represent the blanks of folded cards, the parts of each card being
united along one edge by the common stock, and along one or more of the other
edges by paste or cement 2.
These blanks can be made of double length or double width, and folded
accordingly as represented.
In all varieties of the card where pasted or cemented edges are used, the
parts at two or more edges may be united.
Figure 8 represents the blank of a card having two closed edges; Figure 7, that
of one having three; and Figure 6, that of one having all its edges closed.
And Figures 4 and 5 represent two other cards of the latter description,
Before or after the parts are cemented together as just described, lines of
perforations y, similar to those in sheets of postage stamps, will be punched in
either or both parts to correspond with the inner limits of the respective stripes of
paste or cement, and in the case of folded cards similar lines of perforations y³ may
be punched along the folds as illustrated in Figures 6, 7, and 8.
Figure 4 illustrates punching the perforations through both parts of the card.
The edges of a card thus perforated may be readily toru off, leaving the remainder
of the two parts clear and smooth.
A thumb notch x, Figure 7, in the front of the card, or a slight end projection w,
Figure 8, on the back, to correspond with an open end, or any similar provision
may be added to facilitate separating the parts.
In the case of a pasted card, which is closed at all edges, an opening v, Figure 6,
may be formed to admit a pencil or other instrument for ripping or cutting out
the back.

page_text: Slits may take the place of perforations, and other similar modifications may bé
made without departing from the Invention.
The double card first described adapted in its manufacture to split or divide
parallel to its face will alone require none of the above-described special opening
devices;
but the various modifications described illustrate inferior forms or embodi-
ments of this Invention, which consists essentially of a return post card having both
address blanks, and the representation of both postages on its face, and an exposed
full sized surface for the first message, and a full sized surface for the return message,
which is exposed by removing the sheet containing the first message.
The face of the double card is printed as illustrated in Figures 1, 3, and 4, being
provided with one or two stamps 8, 81, 82, representing postage two ways, a blank
or blanks p, p, p', for two post marks, any instructions i, 2, 3, which may be
required or approved, and two address blanks a, a, with or without the designation
"return postal card," or any other name which may be adopted.
It is considered important that the stamp or stamps, the post mark space or
spaces, and the address spaces occupy substantially the usual relation with reference
to each other as illustrated. This adapts the card to be arranged, post marked, and
distributed in the same manner as ordinary post cards and letters. Otherwise the
arrangement as well as the form of the letters and lines is entirely unessential, and
the lines may be omitted.
All the printing with ink will be confined to the face of the card, but the words
"tear this out and write reply on surface beneath," or words to this effect, may be
water lined in a paper back sheet B³, as illustrated in Figure 5.
For the messages there are two surfaces b, c, the first being the outer surface of
the part B, and the second one the back of the part A. Both of these surfaces it
will be observed are substantially a full size and unobstructed, and may be written
upon lengthwise and crosswise as preferred.
The manner of using the cards is illustrated in Figures 2 and 3, "Tongue &
Birkbeck "wishing certain information, take a return card of the form shown in
Figure 1, and write in the space a the address of their correspondents, and upon
the surface b, which is the whole back of the card, they write their message, the
card being posted is post marked in the upper space p, and the stamp 8 is simul-
taneously cancelled. "G. Chapman & Co.," who are the parties addressed, upon
receiving the card remove the part B by splitting the card as directed (see Figure 2),
retaining this part bearing the message to them for their file, and keeping if they
so choose a memorandum of their answer upon its blank back. This answer is
written upon the surface c, and the address of "Tongue & Birkbeck" is written in
the lower address space a³, and the card is re-posted, receives its second post mark
in the space p³, and is finally delivered to the party who first sent it with saving
of time, trouble, and expense to all concerned.
Both addresses may of course be written by the first sender, and other details of
use as well as of manufacture must be variable.
In the case of a card having two stamps and a single post marking space as
illustrated in Figure 4, the upper stamp s¹ and the upper part of the space p¹
opposite the first address will naturally be first used and then the lower.
What I claim under the above in part recited Letters Patent is,―
First. A return postal card consisting of a front part A having a printed face
bearing two address blanks, and a stamp or stamps for postage two ways, and a
removable back part B covering the blank back of the front part and forming a
supplemental writing surface on which a message may be sent to a person who is
to answer upon said back surface of the front card, substantially as herein-before
described and illustrated in the Drawings annexed.
Secondly. I claim a return postal card, the paper of which is manufactured so as
to split into two parts for the purpose of exposing a second full sized message
surface, and printed with both address blanks and a stamp or stamps for postage
4

page_text: both ways on one side of the double card, substantially as herein-before described,
and illustrated in the Drawings annexed.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Chapman, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Ninth day of July, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-eight.
Witness,
J. G. TONGUE,
Patent Agent,
34, Southampton Buildings,
Chancery Lane,
London,
W.C.
GEO. CHAPMAN. (L.S.)