A New or Improved Method of Advertising.
Year: 1891

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A New or Improved Method of Advertising.
I, CHARLES MERRIEN of 11, Drylands Road, Weston Park Crouch End,
London, N., Gentleman 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 thereof that is to say :-
My invention relates to improved means of advertising and has for its object to
entice the public to read the advertisements inserted in a pamphlet or book designed
according to this invention by giving them a pecuniary interest therein in the form
of a coupon while likewise inviting railway, steamboat omnibus, tramway and other
similar companies to deliver such pamphlets gratuitously by inserting therein free
of charge their time tables or other information relating to their traffic and which
may be of interest to the public who will moreover find in this pamphlet every
information as to places of amusements or of public resort.
It is a well known fact that advertising is now so generally resorted to by
tradesmen manufacturers and others that almost every conceivable means has been
devised to bring before the eyes of the public the particular article or firm
advertised. Yet the means hitherto employed have been very costly and have
had but a relative and small result, while persons having but small means at
command have been debarred from availing themselves of such advertisements.
Newspaper advertisements are seldom read bills are generally thrown away
without being barely glanced at while prospectus delivered either by hand or by
post find rapidly their way into the waste paper basket.
Now according to my invention, I have designed a small convenient and elegant
book or pamphlet containing scarcely over fifty pages so that it can be rapidly
perused either when travelling over short distances in omnibuses railway trains,
steamboats &c. or otherwise during meal times, whilst smoking &c.
The handy size of the book will enable anyone to place it in a pocket and carry
it about the person as a guide which will be frequently referred to."
The book may
further contain a suitable index on the last pages. Each book or pamphlet which
is as above stated delivered gratuitously to the public contains a coupon or lottery
ticket attached thereto or enclosed therein, giving bearer a chance to win a prize
which will be represented by a sum of money to be expended in goods bought of
one of the firms advertised in the book, thus giving the said firms an opportunity of
recouping themselves of their outlay for advertisements. The advantage of the
coupon is that it affords advertisers a ready means of control over the delivery or
distribution of the books, as the tickets of the book that are not delivered cannot
enter the competition for prizes. The amounts to be won in prizes will be
regulated by the amount paid by the advertisers, and will be under the management
and control of the advertising company publishing the book, who may moreover
subdivide large prizes into small sums by means of drafts which will be presented
by the winner to the advertised firms to whom he applies for goods.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :
The improved means of advertising arranged and combined substantially as
herein before described and for the purpose set forth.
Dated this 17th day of July 1891
HUGHES, ELI & HUGHES,
76, Chancery Lane, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A New or Improved Method of Advertising.
I, CHARLES MERRIEN of 11, Drylands Road, Weston Park Crouch End,
London, N., Gentleman 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 thereof that is to say :-
My invention relates to improved means of advertising and has for its object to
entice the public to read the advertisements inserted in a pamphlet or book designed
according to this invention by giving them a pecuniary interest therein in the form
of a coupon while likewise inviting railway, steamboat omnibus, tramway and other
similar companies to deliver such pamphlets gratuitously by inserting therein free
of charge their time tables or other information relating to their traffic and which
may be of interest to the public who will moreover find in this pamphlet every
information as to places of amusements or of public resort.
It is a well known fact that advertising is now so generally resorted to by
tradesmen manufacturers and others that almost every conceivable means has been
devised to bring before the eyes of the public the particular article or firm
advertised. Yet the means hitherto employed have been very costly and have
had but a relative and small result, while persons having but small means at
command have been debarred from availing themselves of such advertisements.
Newspaper advertisements are seldom read bills are generally thrown away
without being barely glanced at while prospectus delivered either by hand or by
post find rapidly their way into the waste paper basket.
Now according to my invention, I have designed a small convenient and elegant
book or pamphlet containing scarcely over fifty pages so that it can be rapidly
perused either when travelling over short distances in omnibuses railway trains,
steamboats &c. or otherwise during meal times, whilst smoking &c.
The handy size of the book will enable anyone to place it in a pocket and carry
it about the person as a guide which will be frequently referred to.
The book may
further contain a suitable index on the last pages. Each book or pamphlet which
is as above stated delivered gratuitously to the public contains a coupon or lottery
ticket attached thereto or enclosed therein, giving bearer a chance to win a prize
which will be represented by a sum of money to be expended in goods bought of
one of the firms advertised in the book, thus giving the said firms an opportunity of
recouping themselves of their outlay for advertisements. The advantage of the
coupon is that it affords advertisers a ready means of control over the delivery or
distribution of the books, as the tickets of the book that are not delivered cannot
enter the competition for prizes. The amounts to be won in prizes will be
regulated by the amount paid by the advertisers, and will be under the management
and control of the advertising company publishing the book, who may morcover
subdivide large prizes into small sums. by means of drafts which will be presented
by the winner to the advertised firms to whom he applies for goods.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
The improved means of advertising arranged and combined substantially as
herein before described and for the purpose set forth.
Dad thin 17th day of Jul 1801
HUGHES, ELI & HUGHES,
76, Chancery Lane, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.