IMPROVEMENTS IN PHOTO- GRAPHY
Year: 1866

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Luigi Bernieri, of Victoria Grove, Kensington, in
the County of Middlesex, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN PHOTO-
GRAPHY."
Sealed the 10th May 1867, and dated the 15th November 1866.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Luigi Bernieri at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 15th
November 1866.
I, LUIGI BERNIERI, of Victoria Grove, Kensington, in the County of
Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for IMPROVE-
MENTS IN PHOTOGRAPHY," to be as follows (that is to say) :-
My Invention has reference to obtaining photographic backgrounds with
inscriptions, monograms, heraldic, and other devices thereon so as to present
to portraits or otherwise a medallion-like appearance in relievo; in place of
the plain unfinished borders as at present, and consists in writing or printing
the said inscriptions, letters, devices or otherwise upon a ground glass or
semi-translucent surface surrounding the image upon the negative or collodion
plate so that by covering or blocking out the said portrait or other parts of
the plate not required to be acted upon by the light the said inscriptions or
devices as aforesaid may be transferred upon the card as also the deeper tints

page_text: forming the shadows to the outline of the border in relievo. By this process
white inscriptions or otherwise are left or produced upon the disk or tinted
ground of the medallion shadowed as aforesaid.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Luigi Bernieri in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
15th May 1867.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, LUIGI
BERNIERI, of Victoria Grove, Kensington, in the County of Middlesex, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fifteenth day of November, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six, in the thirtieth year of Hero
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Luigi Bernieri, Her special licence that I, the said Luigi Bernieri, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Luigi
Bernieri, 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
PHOTOGRAPHY," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Luigi
Bernieri, 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 Luigi Bernieri, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement and the Drawings therein referred to (that is to say):-
:-
My Invention has reference to obtaining photographic back grounds with
inscriptions, monograms, heraldic, and other devices thereon so as to present
to portraits or otherwise a medallion-like appearance in relievo in place of
the plain unfinished borders as at present, and consists in writing or printing
the said inscriptions, letters, devices, or otherwise upon the ground glass or

page_text: semi-translucent surface surrounding the image upon the negative or collodion
plate, so that, by covering or blocking out the said portrait or other part of
the plate not required to be acted upon by the light the said inscriptions or
devices as aforesaid may be transferred upon the card, as also the deeper tints
forming the shadows to the outline of the border in relievo. By this process
white inscriptions or otherwise are left or produced upon the disk or tinted
ground of the medallion as before described.
But in order, that my said Invention may be more fully understood and
readily carried into effect I now proceed to describe the same by the aid of
the accompanying Drawings, reference being had to the letters and figures
thereon marked (that is to say):
Fig. 1 represents an unfixed vignette proof; Fig. 2, a head from a similar
proof to cover Fig. 1 whilst the inscription and circle is being printed; Fig 3,
ground glass or other translucent plate or transparent substance having the
circles, letters, or inscriptions inscribed in ink, pencil, or otherwise thereon as
also the inner circle; Fig. 4, view of the plate with the head from Fig. 2
pasted in the centre; Fig. 5, plate entirely blocked out with. the exception
of a translucent crescent for forming the required shade on the side of the
medallion; Fig. 6, the medallion portrait completed, and Fig. 7 reverse side❤
of the medallion with inscription obtained in like manner to the above. In
each Figure the same letters of reference denote similar corresponding parts.
A, A, vignette proof; B, B, plate upon which the same is taken; C, C, proof
head covering the original; D, D, translucent circle; E, E, inscriptions; F, F,
inner circle; G, G, opaque substance for blocking out the plate; H, II, trans-
lucent crescent; H', shadow formed thereby; I, I, medallion photograph
finished; J, J, coats of arms or otherwise as above described. In conclusion
to the foregoing description I would here briefly note that the disposition
and arrangement of the different tints, together with the shades, monograms,
or otherwise, may be greatly varied or receive such other modifications as may
be found necessary.
Having now fully described and ascertained the nature of this my said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is to be performed and carried
into effect, I would have it clearly understood that I do not by any means
intend to confine myself to the precise details herein-before described, as the
same may be otherwise varied without departing from the general principle of
this my said Invention, nor do I claim as new and of my said Invention the
exclusive use of the several substances, combinations, and processes herein-
before described, except when the same are employed in and for the purposes of
my said Invention, which I hereby declare to consist in the exclusive right of

page_text: producing and employing a medallion-like appearance in relievo to photographic
portraits, busts, or otherwise having inscriptions, monograms, or similar devices
printed thereon in the manner and for the purposes herein-before set forth
and described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Luigi Bernieri, have hereunto set my 5
hand and seal, this Fourteenth day of May, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven.
LUIGI BERNIERI. (L.S.)