ostage Stamps.
Year: 1898

page_text: ostage Stamps.
I, WILLIAM ALFRED EDWARD CROMBIE, of 81, Denmark Hill, London, S.E..
Consulting Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows;-
-
My invention relates to improvements in postage stamps, & has for its object
to make each individual stamp serve for two values, thereby lessening the
number of stamps of different values required.
In carrying my invention into effect I divide the stamp into two more or less
equal parts by perforations extending across the stamp either horizontally, ver-
tically or diagonally, but not so as to divide the stamp into two triangular parts,
as it would be by perforations extending from one corner to the diametrically
opposite corner.
In this way the stamp as a whole could serve for one value, & each of the
two parts for one half that value.
This is specially intended to make each penny stamp serve as two halfpenny
stamps when required.
Dated this Eighth day of July 1800
stage Stamps.
I, WILLIAM ALFRED EDWARD CROMBIE, Consulting Engineer, of No. 81,
Denmark Hill, in the County of Surrey, 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:-
My said invention relates to improvements in postage stamps and has for its
object to make each individual stamp divisable, each part representing a certain
value, thereby lessening the number of stamps, of different denominations,
required to be kept in stock.
In carrying the invention into effect, each stamp is divided into two equal or they
might be more or less unequal parts by means of a row of perforations extending
across the stamp either horizontally or diagonally but not so as to divide the
stamp into two triangular parts as would be the case if the row of perforations
extended from one corner to the diametrically opposite corner.
By these means, a stamp as a whole could represent a given denomination
and each of the halves could represent equal or unequal parts thereof, but the
[Price 8d1

page_text: device is especially intended to make each penny stamp serve as two halfpenny
stamps when required.
And, in order that the said invention may be more clearly understood and
readily carried into effect, I will proceed, aided by the accompanying drawings,
more fully to describe the same.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1, represents a group or portion of a sheet of postage stamps having
the present invention applied thereto.
Figure 2, represents one of the stamps of the group separately.
Figure 3, is a similar view to Figure 2 illustrating a slight modification.
Figure 4, represents a group or portion of a sheet of postage stamps illus-
trating a further modification.
Figure 5, represents one of the stamps of the group separately, and
Figures 6, and 7, are similar views illustrating further slight modifications.
In the several figures like parts are indicated by similar letters of reference.
Referring to Figures 1, and 2, a represents the body of the stamp, and b
represents the ordinary rows of perforations by the aid of which the stamps
are rendered separable one from the other.
C
According to the present invention, in addition to the ordinary perforations b
bordering the stamps, each stamp is divided into two equal or they might be
more or less unequal parts by means of a row of perforations extending diagon-
ally across the stamp a in such a direction that it meets the rectangular rows
of perforations b at points located at some distance from the corners of the
stamp.
By this arrangement, when the stamps are in the sheet the diagonal rows
of perforations c break joint and consequently there will not be the same
liability, when separating the stamps of a sheet or group, for the tear to run
along or partly along the diagonal lines c instead of the rectangular lines b
as would be the case if the rows of perforations e extended from one corner of
the stamp to the diametrically opposite corner thereof.
In this example, the stamp as a whole represents a value of one penny whilst
each half thereof represents one halfpenny so that by dividing the stamp on
the diagonal line c two separate halfpenny stamps may be obtained, when
required.
Each half of the stamp may bear a representation of Her Majesty as indicated
in the drawing or the entire stamp may bear a single head, but in that case the
direction of the diagonal row of perforations should be reversed, that is to
say, instead of extending from left to right downward, it should as represented
at Figure 3, extend from right to left in order to avoid intersecting and mutilat-
ing the face of Her Majesty although the head will necessarily be divided.
It will be obvious that instead of the two parts a of the stamp having equal
values they may represent differential values, for example one part may repre-
sent a value of one penny and the other part one halfpenny, as will be readily
understood.
In the example given at Figures 4, and 5, the diagonal row of perforations 6,
instead of extending from top to bottom of the stampa, is arranged at an angle
from a horizontal line drawn through the stamp and extends from side to side
thereof, the disposition of the row of perforations with relation to Her Majesty's
head being such that the separation of the stamp into two parts will not mutilate
the face, whilst, at the same time, when the stamps are in the sheet the said
rows of perforations c break joint as in the previous arrangement.
In the example given at Figure 6, the row of perforations c is arranged at
right angles with the top and bottom of the stamp, whilst, in the example given
at Figure 7, said row of perforations is arranged at right angles with the sides
of the stamp but in both cases it is disposed in such manner as to avoid mutilating
the face of Her Majesty.

page_text: These devices are however considered inferior to those herein before shown and
described, for the reason that the rows of perforations e in the undivided sheet
of stamps are continuous and do not break joint.
By the means hereinbefore described a postage stamp of a given denomination
is rendered divisible into two separate stamps of lower denominations and thus
the large number of stamps of different values, at present required to be kept
in stock, will be materially reduced.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:
1. A postage stamp provided with a row of perforations extending diagonally
from top to bottom or side to side thereof at such an angle as to meet the ordinary
perforations bordering the stamp at a considerable distance from the corners
thereof, the stamp as a whole representing a given value and the two parts
separated by said diagonal row of perforations representing stamps of lower value,
in manner substantially as herein shown and described and for the purpose
stated.
2. A postage stamp provided with a row of perforations extending across the
stamp in such manner as to meet the ordinary perforations bordering the stamp
at a considerable distance from the corners thereof the stamp as a whole repre-
senting a given value and the two parts separated by said row of perforations
representing stamps of lower value, in manner substantially as herein shown
and described and for the purpose stated.
3. A postage stamp provided with a row of perforations extending across the
stamp in such manner as to meet the ordinary perforations bordering the stamp
at a considerable distance from the corners thereof and at the same time avoid
defacing or mutilating the face of Her Majesty's image, the stamp as a whole
representing a given value and the two parts separated by said row of perfora-
tions representing stamps of lower value, in manner substantially as herein
shown and described and for the purpose stated.
Dated this 28th day of October 1898.
VAUGHAN & SON,
Agents for the Applicant.