Improved Means of Preventing the Falsification of Liquid and other Products, Works of Art, Monetary and other Documents, and Apparatus for Use in connection therewith.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application; 14th Oct., 1896-Accepted, 6th Mar., 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Means of Preventing the Falsification of Liquid and other
Products, Works of Art, Monetary and other Documents, and
Apparatus for Use in connection therewith.
We, ANDRÉ BRALY, Civil Engineer, of 8, Rue Sainte Beuve, Paris, France,
and LOUIS BRALY, Genealogist, of 19, Cours de la Liberté, Lyons, France, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed
to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
Of late years the fraudulent substitution, palming off, or adulteration of goods, and
more particularly of alimentary products, has assumed such dimensions that trade
marks whose world-wide reputation has only been acquired at the cost of long years
of honest work and intelligence, aided in many cases, by the outlay of considerable
capital are more and more liable to become displaced by marks absolutely identical
in appearance, so close is the imitation, applied to goods of inferior quality produced
at a low price which are palmed off upon buyers as genuine and on such favourable
terms that it becomes impossible for the true marks, notwithstanding the enormous
cost of advertising them, to successfully maintain their position on the market. The
immediate and deplorable results of such a condition of things are as follows:-
1st. The foreign export trade falls off to an alarming extent and it has been found
that in the case of certain marks the sale is reduced to one third and in some cases
to one twentieth of the quantity sold in a year, of goods covered by the false labels.
The exact extent to which this reduction is carried may be readily ascertained by a
comparison of the annual trade done in any one kind of European merchandize, with
the Customs entries. It will thus be easily seen that the commerce and industry of
certain countries are defrauded to the extent of millions every year;
2ndly. The proprietors of the genuine marks having no absolutely certain means of
protecting their goods, are compelled to have recourse to methods of manufacture
which affect the quality of their goods, in order to compete as regards price with
imitations of their marks, which increase in proportion to the popularity enjoyed by
said marks of which the forgers by reason of their smaller expenses are almost the
only ones to profit ;
3rdly. The purchaser having no means of verifying the genuineness of the goods,
other than by referring to the label which covers them, is more often than not
deceived by unscrupulous vendors and it is very rarely that, on finding after a certain.
time that the products sold bim do not correspond to the price paid and the reputation
acquired (he having been supplied with a spurious article), he would not leave off
buying a known mark and try another, owing to the want of any means of verification.
In this manner the best marks gradually lose their popularity and are only upheld by
large advertising expenses which do not always produce the effect expected;
4thly. The deplorable unconcern which unavoidably, exists assists and encourages
infringers to such a degree that there actually exist in certain countries large works
established for the sole purpose of manufacturing the best known trade marks of the
whole world, and in this way dishonest industry rears itself day by day upon the
ruins of honest trading and to the detriment of the latter, who is doomed to
powerlessness, builds up large fortunes whilst ruining the health of the consumers
most frequently intoxicated by products of fraudulent origin.
These simple considerations alone serve to shew the effects produced by the
adultération of products alimentary and otherwise.

page_text: It has therefore become necessary to seek such a solution of the problem as will
ensure to manufacturers and traders the undisputed possession of their trade marks
and at same time permit of the detection of infringers in their barefaced imitations.
This result is believed to be attained by the special kinds of. labels which form the
object of the present application for Letters Patent.
Counterfeiting may be effected in three ways:-
(1) By applying to the receptacle containing the product, whether bottle, flask,
box, etc., a label similar in all respects to the one to be imitated;
(2) By extracting the genuine product and introducing an inferior product in its
place through the usual opening of the receptacle containing it;
(3) By emptying the container of the genuine product and refilling it through
other than the ordinary openings, which method is performed with such skill as to
render it difficult, if not impossible, to detect it.
With the aid of the system of label of this invention, not only the counterfeiting of
industrial products may be prevented but more important forgeries may be rendered
impossible, for example the legalization of signatures to documents of considerable
importance or receipts for large amounts, etc.; for preventing the forgery of bank
cheques by imitations of the signature of the drawer; as well as for guaranteeing by
means of the system of label of this invention, the genuineness of pictures of value,
works of art, which are frequently purchased without any proof of their authenticity.
In order that the object of the invention may be readily understood we will proceed
to describe the same by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings
in which
Figure 1 represents a face view and Figure 2 a back view of a label.
Figures 3 and 4 are modifications.
Figure 5 shews the kind of label used in the case of a small receptacle.
Figures 6 to 10 represent the special kind of label to be applied to large or small
hottles, casks, and other containers, of which it is desired to prevent the contents from
being surreptitiously emptied by their filling orifice.
Figure 11 shews a bottle having the label applied.
Figure 12 shews the application, to a cask protected by the label, of a tube
containing a sample of the liquid.
Figure 13 is a modification.
Figures 14 and 15 show the application of the sample tube to bottles.
Figures 16, 17, 18, 19, shew various applications of the system for guaranteeing
the authenticity of documents, cheques, works of art, and pictures.
Figure 20 represents a hand stamp for the impression of constantly varying seals
or imprints upon the label.
Figure 21 represents a modification of the hand, stamp.
The same letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.
The label consists essentially of the part a constituting the label proper, the check
foil, and the counterfoil c. The person desirous of preventing the counterfeiting of
his mark, imprints upon the face or back or upon both sides of the parts be of the label
one, two, or more impressions of as varied designs as possible, after which the
counterfoil e is severed therefrom along a straight or sinuous line A B and is retained
by the person who has impressed the stamps. The check foil b serves to enable the
purchaser of the goods to verify their origin, for which purpose it is simply necessary
to carefully detach the foil at the line of perforations, so that it may be compared with the
counterfoil in the possession of the vendor in order to ascertain whether it corresponds
exactly or not thereto. In order to prevent confusion and enable a prompt verification
to be effected, each part a bc of the label is similarly seriated and numbered so that
no two labels shall bear the same serial letter and number. The label a and the
margins only around the check foil are stuck on the bottle or other receptacle, so
as to enable the easy detachment of the foil band at same time prevent the stamps
upon the reverse side being visible. The adhesive used should preferably consist
of paste mixed with silicate of potash so as to prevent the labels being detached
without destroying them.

page_text: An important advantage of such an arrangement is that any person seeking to
imitate one of these labels is compelled to mutilate the original as it is necessary to
detach the foil b in order to see the stamps on the back thereof. On the other hand
as there can be no two labels. absolutely alike, 'counterfeiters would be unable to
imitate them on a commercial scale and would be compelled to do so singly which
would be totally impracticable besides being illogical.
To facilitate the verification of the impressions each label bears upon both sides
short strokes d made across the line of severance A B. and serving as guides for
matching the two counterfoils bc. Under these conditions the imitation of labels
becomes such a difficult problem that no one would any longer have any practical
interest in attempting it, as the imitations would necessarily be so imperfect and so
easily detected that the counterfeiter would run very serious risk of prosecution. If
however in addition to the precautions above described, each label be stamped with
constantly varying designs produced independently of the will of the person applying
them; the difficulties and cost of falsification would be so great for each label as to
compel the abandonment of the idea.
The difficulties to be overcome in the case of each label are to match :-
(1) the quality of the paper, which might differ for each series;
(2) the colour of the ink;
(3) the intensity of the impression of each stamp ;"
(4) the form of the broken outline of partially impressed stamps, such as that
shewn on the back of the label in Figure 2;
(5) the changing design of each stamp ;
(6) the position of each stamp ;
'
(7) the sinuous line of severance of the stamps.
Moreover as the stamps on each label constantly vary in form, the counterfeiter
would be compelled to engrave as many dies as there are stamps on each, which would
cost infinitely more than all the advantage he would derive from the deception. With
the view therefore of rendering the imitation of the label absolutely impossible, the
arrangement of hand stamp hereinafter described is employed by means of which
each impression made upon the label is caused to produce different images entirely
independent of the will of the operator.
Figures 1 to 5 represent the kind of label. to be applied to bottles, cases, or other
containers, of which it is not desired to guard against the emptying of their contents,
the aperture by which they are usually filled being therefore left unprotected.
Upon the check foil b which accompanies the label a is printed in the form of an
explanatory note, the use to which it can be put. This note may however, in order
to leave the surface of the check foil & clear, be printed at the bottom margin of the
label. Each label also bears a special notification to the purchaser that each should
bear a serial reference letter and number and have a check foil attached at the right
hand side. The counterfoil c is retained by the seller, as before mentioned, in order
to permit of verifying the label. The counterfoils would be preserved in packets
of 500 or 1000 arranged in numerical order and grouped in series so as to permit of
quickly finding any number required thus forming a permanent record of the trade
marks. Each series may be of any desired numerical extent and may vary as regards
paper and printing and be represented by letters or numbers, or both combined and
be applied to any given description of goods at the option of the vendor.
The check foils may also contain an offer to the effect that premiums of an
amount proportionate to the number of check foils returned will be paid to persons
returning them to the vendor or his agents intact. In this manner the checking will
be effected automatically, at same time that an excellent advertisement is afforded for
the seller as the purchaser will always desire to gain the premium and therefore has
an inducement to acquire a sufficient number of check foils to obtain it.
It will be understood that the manufacturer or trader may vary according to their
taste or requirements the form of the stamps, the line of severance of the latter, and
the text inscribed on the check foil at the foot of the label, as well as the offer of
premiums which may even be dispensed with or be paid in goods.

page_text: The label may also be provided with a third check foil e placed either at the left
hand side (see Figure 3) or on the right hand (see Figure 4); in the latter case the
check foil b would be affixed to the receptacle by the gummed strip f leaving the check
foil b to be easily detached. The check foil e serves to enable the exporter to exercise
a control over his agent abroad, when sending him the counterfoils e for the purpose
of facilitating, on the spot, the verification of the labels in circulation within his
district. This precaution is necessary when absolute reliance cannot be placed in the
agent, as it often happens that the agent for a well known trade mark abroad is the
first to infringe it and so deprive the owners of large profits. By taking the above
precaution it becomes impossible, not to imitate the label, which would be foolish, but
to manufacture complete labels by raising the number of a series, which labels would
always be capable of verification at the agent's by whom they had been sent out.
The stamp which connects the label to the third check foil e has for its sole object to
shew that a check foil detached from a label has belonged to it, but it may be
dispensed with without inconvenience as the importance of the system consists in
the check foil and not in the label.
The label represented in Figure 4 need have only two stubs, viz. :-a check foil and
counterfoil, instead of three, in which case the right hand half of the label would be
divided into two parts only.
For small containers which are not of sufficient size to admit of pasting on a
complete label, such as those before described, the check foil band counterfoil c would
be separate from the label, as in Figure 5, but bear the same series and number. The
check foil which is in this case independent and is to be wrapped around the container,
is provided with two narrow marginal strips b' 62 at its ends over which the label is
pasted as far as the line of perforations at which its detachment for verification is
effected, a stamp being afterwards impressed on the adjacent portions of the label and
check foil. The label may also be accompanied by an extra check foil as in the case
of Figures 3 and 4.
.
Figures 6 to 9 shew a modified form of label to be applied to bottles and receptacles
of all kinds, for preventing the fraudulent emptying or refilling of the same.
In Figures 6 and 7 the label is of a similar type to the one above described with
the addition of a stamped band 9 placed either at the top or left hand side of the label
which is detached and then pasted (except the part h comprised between the two lines
of perforation) around the neck of the bottle so as to envelop the base of the capsule
covering the cork. As the half of the stamp on the band has its counterpart on the
label or check foil it is easy, by detaching the unpasted portion comprised between
the lines of perforations on the band and placing it in juxtaposition with the counter-
part, to ascertain whether the two halves of the stamp correspond and so shew whether
the band has been counterfeited.
A more perfect guarantee, which would render the band still more inviolable,
may be obtained by arranging it in the manner shewn in Figure 8, in which the
band is stamped both at front and back. As the check foil b is pasted by its ends
only on the bottle, it permits when detached of comparing the stamps on both sides
of the band with their counterparts.
In Figure 7 the left hand side of the label bears a band or stripe of fanciful
design upon which is applied a stamp to be divided into two parts, the stripe when
cut with the scissors lengthwise in an irregular line serving of itself as a means of
verifying whether the band placed on the neck of the bottle, is the one which was
cut off the label.
For casks and other large containers of which it is simply desired to prevent the
emptying or the filling up with other liquids, the double label represented in
Figure 9 is used. This label comprises a label a¹ to be applied to the sample
bottle and a second label a² to accompany the cask and correspond with that pasted
on the sample bottle, each label being provided with a check foil b 2 the latter
for verifying the origin of the cask and the former for verifying whether the
label a corresponds to that on the cask. The label further comprises a counterfoil
which is to be retained by the vendor, a check foil e for providing him with

page_text: check. on the intermediate agent both in respect of the aver
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bottle and that pasted upon the cask; a band g which would be pasted on the neck
of the bottle so as to envelop the capsule, provided as before with a detachable
portion; and a hand i pasted vertically on the neck and secured together with
the capsule by a staple (Figure 11) the ends of the strip being fastened down
by the label and the strip being also provided with a detachable portion l. The
label a' and bands are pasted on the sample bottle in the manner shewn in Figure 11
by first detaching from the entire label (Figure 9) the left hand label a', as well
as the stamped band i which is beneath both labels, it being observable that the
label just detached has also upon its left hand the stamped band g. By applying
these three elements, viz. :-two bands for the neck of the bottle and a label and
counterfoil, in the manner shewn in Figure 11, the contents of a sample bottle of
the liquid contained in the cask are rendered inviolable and may be forwarded by
post or otherwise to the purchaser in order that he may verify on the arrival of
the cask whether it has been tampered with, by observing whether the check foil 6'
of label a pasted on the bottle exactly corresponds with the label a pasted over
the cask bung. The cask label may also be verified by means of its check foil b².
Figure 10 represents another variation of the label intended to be pasted over the
cask bung when the vessel containing the sample is placed in the interior of the cask.
The label a properly so-called is provided with two-check foils 623 detachable along
the lines of perforations, as shewn, and with two counterfoils c c which are cut off by
means of scissors. The right hand counterfoil c should correspond exactly with the
one sent by post to the purchaser, the other counterfoil being retained by the seller
in case of loss of the first. The liquid sample is in this case contained in a sealed
glass vessel m the cork of which is covered with a layer of silicate of lime, said. vessel
being suspended within the cask by attaching it to the bung which is protected from
the fact of its being covered by the label a², as shewn in Figure 12.
The following means of closing the cask are preferably employed :-
(1) A liquid-tight wooden bung A;.
(2) A layer of glue B run in hot upon the bung flush with the surface of
the stave;
(3) A sheet, of stout paper C slightly smaller than the label, applied with hot glue
and to which the label is glued with the exception of the counterfoil which is left free
so as to be detachable, the label being then covered with a sheet of blotting paper and
a sheet of card;
(4) A thickness of leather D secured by staples E upon a rubber ring F sunk in a
groove around the bung-hole, the leather being glued at its edges;.
(5) A sheet of tin-plate G nailed over all.
In this manner it is impossible to reach the bung without first destroying the
label covering it, or to remove the sample vessel which thus always remains to shew
whether the liquid has been changed by introducing it through another opening made
in the cask. Instead of suspending the sample, tube within the cask it may be attached
directly to the bung.
•
In Figure 13 the bung A is formed with a plug stopper A' surrounded with cork
filling in the mouth of the sample tube, the joint being sealed by means of silicate of
lime run in through a hole made in the bung. The same method is applicable in the
case of bottles which may be emptied through other openings than the mouth, so that
each bottle. will carry its own sample of liquor.
The sample vessel may be mounted in the manner shewn in Figure 14, or as in
Figure 15, in which latter case the cork of the sample tube is covered with sealing
wax over a layer of silicate of potash and baryta.
The invention may also be applied for the purpose of verifying the genuineness of
cheques, documents, works of art, etc.
For documents of an important character, signatures, receipts, etc., the form of
which would vary according to circumstances, the method illustrated in Figure 16 is
adopted, which consists in impressing upon the line at which the document a is severed

page_text: by the scissors from its check foil & both at front and back, a sufficient number of
stamps more or less fortuitously mutilated or broken off, so that forgery becomes
absolutely impossible.
To prevent the forgery of signatures on cheques, the method indicated in Figure 17
is adopted. Each cheque a is provided, in addition to its ordinary counterfoil t, with
a counterfoil e to be retained by the bank so as to permit of verifying the cheque
when presented, and a check foil b which is severed at the two dotted lines and which
will be gummed by its two ends to the corresponding cheque so as to enable the
genuineness of the signature to be ascertained. These check foils & would form a
little book kept separately from the cheque book. Stamps are impressed at the same
time upon the cheque a, check foil 6, and counterfoil c. By this means not only the
possessor of a cheque book need not fear the abstraction and the imitation of his
signature but the banker can also with the aid of the counterfoil which he has
retained, verify the genuineness of the signature before cashing the cheque presented
for payment. The owner of such a cheque book need only to safeguard the small
book or packet of check foils & bearing the middle portion of the stamps impressed
upon the cheque by the bank and to attach each strip to its corresponding cheque
by sticking the ends of the cheque foil thereto.
In the case of the sale of pictures, works of art, etc., the label would be a document
made of paper with a weft of flax or silk of which one portion only would constitute
the label proper.
For pictures the label would preferably be arranged as shewn in Figure 18 and
comprises the document u forming the certificate of authenticity of the picture and
constituting the sale note, on the right of which is a strip a to be cut off the document
bearing stamps on both sides and also the same signature as on the document, and
should be handed to the purchaser and pasted on the back of the picture with paste
prepared with silicate of potash in order to prevent its being removed. The parts
comprised between the dotted lines are alone left unattached so as, in the extreme case
of dispute, to enable the stamps on the back of the strip to be inspected and verified.
The document further comprises a strip e to be retained by the artist and a check
foil which should be filed and serves to enable the document, the foil attached to the
picture, and the foil retained by the artist, to be each verified. These three
parts abc each bears the signature of the artist, like the document u handed to the
purchaser, together with the name of said purchaser and the subject of the picture.
The sale note bears the same number as the three strips a b c and has also attached to
it a greater or less number of counterfoils which are also numbered and serve for
inscribing thereon successive sales, as well as for enabling each new purchaser to
verify the genuineness of the picture by referring to the artist. The dimensions of
the document and also of the check foils may vary at will.
In selling works of art the form shewn in Figure 19 is preferably employed. The
document would then comprise the sale note u, the label a properly so-called the size
of which would vary according to the article on which it is to be pasted provided as
before with small readily detachable counterfoils to serve for checking, a check foil b
which is to be filed, a check foil which is to be retained by the vendor, a check
foil c to be handed to the purchaser with the document u so as to enable him to verify
by reference to the vendor the genuineness of the article, a second check foil c
serving the same purpose as the previous one in the event of loss of the check
foils c or . This second check foil c¹ may however be dispensed with. The three
small perforated counterfoils serve to verify the sale note u, the filed counterfoil b, and
the first check foil c. The label and check foils would all bear the same serial letter
and number as the sale note, as well as the signature of the author of the work
of art.
In order that the herein described system of label shall afford an absolute guarantee,
the invention comprises a special construction of band stamp which possesses the
important advantage of producing at each time of use different impressions
independent of the will of the user, which is equivalent to employing a different
stamp for each impression which would be impracticable. The hand stamp is

page_text: constructed, as shewn in Figure 20, of a series of wheels n of the same diameter
and of the same or different thicknesses, which may be either engraved on their
periphery or encircled by rubber type bands having suitably moulded printing
faces. The wheels n are mounted on a common spindle o and separated by thin metal
washers p.
The wheels are capable of freely revolving upon their carrying spindle so as to
shift easily relatively to one another. The spindle o is fixed adjustably in guides
in the two limbs of a fork 9 by screws, whose unthreaded ends form journals for
the spindle to revolve upon, as well as the wheels. When it is desired to print a
stamp, the printing surfaces of the wheels are inked and rolled upon the paper
care being taken to avoid making more than a partial revolution so as to avoid
repetition of the same design. The mere raising of the stamp after an impression,
is sufficient to change the relative position of the wheels so that a different design
is obtained at each impression.
. Supposing that there are only twenty possible positions of one disc relatively to a
given point of another, it will be found on calculation that 384,000,000 permutations
may be obtained which is equivalent to asserting that the pattern of the stamp is
never twice alike and this without considering the different lengths. of the rolling
impression and the infinite variations which may be obtained by interposing
between the. stamp and the paper to be printed on, a thin paper stencil having
fortuitously variable apertures, and the fact that by the use of change wheels an
infinite number of new impressions may be obtained, the substitution of one only
giving 3,200,000. new permutations.
Figure 21 represents another arrangement of band stamp which may also be
employed for the purpose. The stamp is composed of a metal disc having a
number of cavities of different sizes in which are inserted small truncated conical
metal dies s whose smaller ends rest upon the bottoms of the cavities and have their
printing faces flush with that of the. disc r, a clearance being however left between
the said blocks and the walls of the cavities so as to allow of their turning freely
therein and prevent their binding. The several blocks s have each a projecting stem c
screw-threaded at its outer end which passes freely through the block and, also
through a metal plate y faced on its upper side with indiarubber, the said blocks being
each fixed by means of nuts after the plate y has been adjusted in position, said plate
being caused by the action of a spiral spring to hold the blocks s in their cavities
with the greater firmness the tighter the nuts are screwed up. An internally threaded
cap 1 screwed in a socket in the end of the handle of the stamp serves to confine the
spiral spring which is compressed by pressing on the button 2 so as to operate the
stem 2 to which plate y is attached. By pressing on the stem 2' in this manner
the stems of the blocks become freed and may, by shaking the stamp, be caused to
assume different positions independently of the will of the user. On the button 2
being released the spring will raise the rod 21 and again secure the dies in their
respective cavities.. If the whole surface of the stamp be engraved the pattern of the
stamp will be changed every time the dies are shifted so that by depressing the rod 2'
after every impression successive impressions will appear to be produced by separate
stamps. The stems of the conical blocks and plate y are enclosed in a casing made in
two parts fixed in the forked frame q to which the disc is also fixed while the metal
plate y is capable of sliding in grooves in the limbs of said frame. To enable the
various combinations to be infinitely varied, the conical blocks s may be replaced by
others bearing different designs and inscriptions. Moreover each stamp may be inked
in one or several colours..
The verification of the labels may also be effected by stamping on the label
and its counterfoils identical designs, care being taken to vary these designs for
each label.
'
..
In lieu of the kind. of stamps hereinbefore described, any designs varying in form
and position with regard to each other may be employed.
Besides the variable impressions obtainable of the stamp as a whole, an infinite
number of other variations may be obtained by interposing between the stamp and the

page_text: sheet to be printed on, a thin paper stencil cut out in open patterns of fanciful design,
which determine the outline of the stamp which being fortuitous adds to the difficulty
of imitation. The impression produced by a stamp may also be infinitely varied by
dividing the impression, by the interposition of a narrow strip of paper cut to a
fanciful shape. The impressions produced by the stamp may also be of different
colours of a more or less pronounced character, or they may be of different colours
blending one in the other so as to render them incapable of imitation.
By the adoption of the check foil the label ceases to be of any importance. It is
therefore no longer necessary to incur the expense of engraving costly labels with the
object of rendering their imitation more difficult, which precaution is however quite
useless, a simple label bearing an indication of the nature of the product with the
name and address of the vendor being quite sufficient when it has joined with it a
check foil bearing stamps which are incapable of imitation. The check foil might even
be independent of the label.
Labels for casks or sample bottles may be made of paper, fabric, or thin parchment,
or of any paper stronger than that used for ordinary labels. The check foils when
separate from the label may be of a different colour for each series or for different
products at will.
For attaching the labels to the goods it is preferable to employ paste prepared with
silicate of potash as they are thereby fixed so firmly as to render it impossible to
remove them entire..
These improved labels may be employed for all kinds of products including wines,
brandies, oils, chocolates, preserves, pharmaceutical products, perfumeries, cloths,
leather, etc., it being simply necessary to make them of such forms and dimensions as
to permit of their being applied to the article the falsification of which is to be
prevented, and as the same number of a series can only be sold once and the check
foil bearing said number and series is always verifiable, imitation is rendered
impossible and there would be no advantage in removing a label for the purpose of
exposing the stamps upon the back of the check foil with a view of copying the same,
as by so doing the genuine label would be rendered unusable and even, then only a
single specimen could be imitated, on the assumption that imitation is. possible
which is not the case. Moreover the sole fact that the check foil to be forged bears.
three stamps, renders it necessary to engrave three corresponding dies before
being able to derive any benefit would render impracticable any attempt to forge the
label.
With the aid of this system of label any fraudulent imitation can be detected in
a very simple manner. Thus supposing a product having attached to it a label
marked Series A, No. 003251, as the product of a certain Firm B, it will be evident
that if the check foil verified by the firm does not exactly correspond with the
counterfoil that a fraud has been committed inasmuch as no two numbers of the
same series are ever issued by said firm. In such a case the Firm B calls upon the
suspected trader and summons him to produce his invoice, on pain of prosecution, and
as it is clear that no such invoice exists and that he is unable to give the numbers
and series of the products which he is informed have been adulterated, the proof of the
fact is evident. If however he has purchased in good faith from an intermediate
agent, the latter would be called upon for explanations in order to ascertain who
should be prosecuted for the offence. If necessary, a blank space may be left at the
bottom of each label on which to place the vendor's stamp when purchasing the article,
in order to prevent his denying the sale, but this precaution is not necessary to
ensure detection of a fraud. Moreover the return to the firm. of the greater number
of the check foils by the offer of premiums would greatly facilitate detection. Under
these conditions. no trader would risk the loss. of credit by attempting a deception
which could not fail to be discovered.
It too often happens that the agents for good marks abroad are the first to produce
fraudulent imitations which they launch upon the market in double or treble, and
often a still larger, proportion to that supplied them by the proprietor of the mark.
It will be seen that in this manner not only is the manufacturer defrauded to a

page_text: considerable extent but the trade mark being exposed to imitation on the part of the
one who should have defended it, rapidly loses in popularity inasmuch as the product
offered for sale must for the most part he of inferior quality, thus leading in a short
time to the ruin of important houses. This abuse is cut short by the employment of
the second check foil which always enables the manufacturer to exercise a control
over, and if necessary detect any fraud on the part of, his agent.
When the foreign agent is charged with the duty of filling the receptacles to be
labelled, only just the necessary number of labels would be supplied him, so that any
issue of fresh labels by him would be immediately detected as no counterpart or
second check foil would be in the possession of the original vendor. Hence a real
economy and a considerable increase of sales abroad by many firms having
unscrupulous agents, through the use of this check foil label. It is easy to under-
stand that good trade marks being in consequence of the employment of a label of
this kind placed in a condition to be defended with certainty, will derive great
importance from this. fact and the prices of the goods may be kept up since they
will be more sought after. The purchaser on the other hand will find it a real
advantage as, contrary to what is at present the case, he will have the security of
purchasing a genuine mark inasmuch as he is enabled to verify its origin and he
will not hesitate on these conditions to pay a good price for a product of his choice.
By this means the reputation of good marks will not be squandered, as the owner's
reputation would be maintained at a high level by the exercise of greater care in the
production of the goods and so give a deadly blow to the counterfeiters who are the
direct cause of the ruin of the best marks.
The premiums offered to customers for the return of the check foils to the vendors
affords an excellent means of increasing the sale of a product and securing the
continuance of the purchaser's custom, as it is seldom that a person having a few
counterfoils in his possession will not endeavour to increase the number until he has
sufficient to claim the premium. In this manner he will accustom himself, little by
little, to purchase a certain brand provided it be of good quality, which would not be
the case had he no direct interest in so doing. The numeration and seriation of the
labels also lends itself to the giving away of valuable prizes for each series which
would serve as a good advertisement for the firm as well as an inducement to the
public to buy.
:
The following are the principal advantages derivable from the system of label
described :-
:
1st. Reduction in the cost of advertizing and also in the cost of the labels, as a
label of a simpler kind answers every purpose while it would no longer be necessary
to have recourse to costly and ineffectual methods of preventing counterfeiting;
2nd. Absolute certainty of protecting trade marks which are at present liable to be
imitated, and of detecting piracy, and thus avoid the loss of their reputation and
enable the price of the article to be maintained, instead of its becoming depreciated
in value by the flooding of the market with spurious imitations;
3rd. Saving of the costly analyses which are frequently necessary for the purpose
of detecting adulterations, inasmuch as the label itself affords proof of the genuineness
of the article;
4th. Repressing at one stroke both forgers and unscrupulous manufacturers who
live on acquired reputations and lower the quality of goods, even if they do not
poison their customers;
i
5th. Affording the owners of good marks the inducement to keep up the high
quality of their goods and the power to maintain their price;
.
6th. Keeping foreign products out of the market, which are generally gross imitations
of known brands ;..
7th. Preventing consumers from being deceived as to the quality and price of the
goods which they are purchasing, as it is always possible to verify their genuineness,
so that traders being aware of the fact will never dare to substitute one make of
goods for another ;.
8th. Purchasers benefitting by the employment of this system of label, to the

page_text: extent of from four to five per cent. according to the kind of goods, are directly
interested in preserving the counterfoils and returning them to the manufacturer and
will thus continue to buy the same brand;
9th. Possibility of this simple and inexpensive system being applied by any one
to all kinds of products, as well as of infinitely varying the forms of the stamps
with respect to the impressions produced, from the simplest to the most
complicated;
10th. Possibility of being always able to prove with the aid of the serial letters and
numbers on the labels at what period they were issued and to whom the goods have
been supplied, thus affording a sure means of checking and, in the case of wines,
cognacs, etc., which improve by ageing, of ascertaining to what year they belong
which it is impossible to verify with ordinary labels, of which even the authenticity
is doubtful.
"Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to 'be performed we declare that what we
claiin is-
1st. A system of label for guaranteeing the genuineness and origin of any goods,
comprising the label proper a indicating the nature and origin of the goods,
address, etc.; a counterfoil c to be cut off from the label and retained by the vendor;
a check foil b forming part of and capable of being detached from the label by the
purchaser so as to permit of the latter verifying said check foil with the counterfoil
retained by the original vendor; each label, counterfoil, and check foil being seriated
and numbered and bearing stamps at front or back or on both sides, af variable
design, substantially as described with reference to Figures 12 and 5.
2nd. A system of label of the kind specified provided with an additional check foil
bearing stamps imprinted partly upon the label and partly on the foil whereby to
provide, the vendor with a check on his agent when sending him the counterfoils
for the purpose of verifying the labels circulating in his district, as described with
reference to Figures 3 and 4.
3rd. The modified form of label of the kind hereinbefore described, comprising, in
addition, a band to be pasted (with the exception of the part à comprised between the
two dotted lines) around the neck of the bottle so as to envelop the base of the capsule,
said band and the check foil bearing one or more stamps of which the counter-
parts are impressed on the label or check foil, as described with reference to
Figures 67 and 8.
4th. The modified form of label forming the subject of the last-numbered claim,
comprising the additional band i with detachable foil to be pasted (with the
exception of said foil) vertically upon the bottle neck and retained by a staple
passing through it and through the capsule, as, described with reference to
Figures 9 and 11.
5th. The modified form of label of the kind hereinbefore described for ensuring the
genuineness of a liquid contained in a cask or other large container and also of the
sample, said modification comprising two labels a' a and two check foils b¹² one
serving for the cask or large container and the other for the sample bottle or flask, as
described with reference to Figure 9.
6th. The modified form of label of the kind herein before described, comprising
two check foils and two counterfoils for guaranteeing the authenticity of the
product contained in any container and having a sample enclosed in a sealed
Hask placed within the container, as described with reference to Figures 10, 12,
13, 14, and-15.
7th. The system of label herein described as applied for guaranteeing the
authenticity of cheques and other documents, as described with reference to
Figures 16 and 17.
8th. The system of label forming the subject of the first claim as applied for
guaranteeing the authenticity of pictures or works of art, the label comprising the
additional document u constituting the sale note and the small counterfoils v

page_text: upon which are inscribed successive sales, as described with reference to
Figures 18 and 19.
9th. The special constructions of hand stamps composed of independent elements
whose relative positions may be varied at will for applying impressions of constantly
variable design upon the labels, as described with reference to Figures 20 and 21.
Dated this 14th day of October 1896.
A. M. & WM. CLARK,
53, Chancery Lane, London, Chartered Patent. Agents...