IMPROVEMENTS IN THE ALBUMS OF COLLEC- TION OF PHOTOGRAPHIC AND LITHOGRAPHIC PROOFS, ENGRAVINGS, AND OTHER DRAWINGS
Year: 1860

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to François Remy Grumel, of 333, Saint Martin Street,
Paris, in the Empire of France, and of 42, Bridge Street, Blackfriars,
.
London, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE ALBUMS OF COLLEC-
TION OF PHOTOGRAPHIC AND LITHOGRAPHIC PROOFS, ENGRAVINGS, AND OTHER
DRAWINGS."
Sealed the 9th November 1860, and dated the 22nd August 1860.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said François Remy.Grumel
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
22nd August 1860.
I, FRANÇOIS REMY GRUMEL, of 333, Saint Martin Street, Paris, in the
Empire of France, and of 42, Bridge Street, Blackfriars, London, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE ALBUMS
OF COLLECTION OF PHOTOGRAPHIC AND LITHOGRAPHIC PROOFS, ENGRAVINGS, AND OTHER
DRAWINGS," to be as follows, that is to say :-
The object of my Invention consists in forming albums for the purpose of
holding visiting cards, whether photographs or prints, or any other designs so
as to shew the specimens on each side of the leaf. The formation of each leaf
presents no uneveness on the surface, so that they shut equally as well and as
close as a book, and thus entirely prevents the entrance of either air or dust.
Hence my albums possess the advantage of preserving the photographs placed

page_text: in them for an indefinite time. Each leaf of my album is formed of three parts
or layers glued together. The middle leaf is twice the thickness of the visiting
card or photograph to be placed within the album. The part twice the thick-
ness of the card to be inserted has an opening or aperture cut out corre-
sponding exactly to the width and length of the card or cards to be placed
within the leaf of the album; then I take the two parts forming the outer
faces of the leaf, and cut out of them a portion similar in outline to the middle
part before described, but a little less all round; these three parts are then
glued together, the bottom of the middle leaf being first removed for the
purpose of introducing the cards or photographs.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said François Remy Grumel in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 29th December-1860.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, FRANÇOIS
REMY GRUMEL, of 383, Saint Martin Street, Paris, in the Empire of France,
and of 42, Bridge Street, Blackfriars, London, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-second day of August, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty, in the twenty-third year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said Francois Remy Grumel, Her special licence that I, the said
Francois Remy Grumel, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such
others as I, the said Francois Remy Grumel, 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, usé, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom
of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE ALBUMS OF COLLECTION OF PHOTOGRAPHIC
AND LITHOGRAPHIC PROOFS, ENGRAVINGS, AND OTHER DRAWINGS," upon the
condition (amongst others) that I, the said Francois Remy Grumel, 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.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Francois Remy Grumel, 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, that is to say :-
My Invention consists in a peculiar mode in constructing the leaves of
albums or such like books used for holding or enclosing visiting cards, whether
photographic images or prints, or any kind of design or picture, in order to
show the printed or photographed face of the card on each side of the leaf, and
at the same time to enable the card or picture to be so disposed within the
leaf that when the album or book is closed the leaves will lie flat and close to
cach other at the edges like those of an ordinary book, and hence prevent the
admission and action of air or dust upon the pictures inclosed, hence allowing
the photograph, or picture, or card to be preserved for a much longer period
than they can by any arrangement at present in use. I effect this as
follows:-Each leaf of my album is formed of three parts or layers, the two
outside ones and the middle one should be of a thickness about equal to the
card or cards to be enclosed; the two outside leaves have a portion of their
central parts cut out, in form a little less than the cards; the middle one has
also a portion cut out in the centre, but larger than the other two, and in
addition it has a portion cut away from the bottom. The three are now
superimposed, so that the central spaces coincide, and the edges of the three
layers are glued or cemented together all round, save where the portion of the
middle layer at its bottom edge is cut away. The cards or pictures are now
inserted through this bottom opening, and pushed up to the central spaces, the
two outside layers, with the inner one, forming slides and frames for retaining
them in their places; either one or two cards may be inserted; if two, and
they are placed back to back, then there will be a face on each side of tho
leaf; a small slip of cotton or skin attached to one side forms a hinge or
substance to bind the leaves, so as to form a book; it will also be seen that
cach leaf may contain several spaces, each holding cards.
In order more clearly to shew the nature of my Invention, and how the
same is formed and acts, I have appended the accompanying Drawings

page_text: Figure 2 is a plan of the middle leaf, which is in thickness equal to the card
or cards to be inserted, and has the space e, f, g, h, cut out, the area of this cut
portion being larger than that of a, b, c, d.
Figure 3 shews the leaves superimposed one on another, the dotted line
marking, the cut space of the middle layer, and the tag or folds for binding
them together attached. It will be seen that when the edges are cemented or
glued together there will be an open space. g, h, at the bottom; through this
the cards. are inserted and pushed, up into the space between the outside
layers.
Figure 4 is a section of this compound leaf on the line x, y; and Figure 5,
a section of the same on the line y,,z, m indicating the central layer n, u¹ the
outer layers, the space for the cards o.
Figure.6 shews on a smaller scale a leaf having a number of card spaces.
Having now described my Invention, and, how the same is made, I wish it
understood that I claim and wish secured by the before in part recited Letters
Patent the construction of albums or books, for the purpose of holding cards
or photographic pictures or prints, having their leaves constructed for the
purpose and after the manner described in this Specification, and illustrated in
the Drawings appended herewith.
In witness whereof, I, the said François Remy Grumel, have, hereunto
set my hand and seal,, this Twenty-fifth day of December, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty.
F. R. GRUMEL. (L.S.)
F. R. GRUMEL. (L.S.)