Improvements in Post Letter Cards.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd Nov, 1892-Accepted, 31st Dec., 1892
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Post Letter Cards.
I, FRANCIS MELVILLE MERRIDEW, Bookseller of 60 Rue Victor Hugo,
Boulogne sur Mer in the Republic of 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 :-
This invention for improvements in post letter cards with attached reply letter
card, has for its object to provide a reply letter card in which the reply card can be
folded in such manner that no portion of it extends beyond that part of the
letter card reserved for the written communication and consequently is not liable to
be damaged when opening the letter card; and consists in a letter card combined
with a reply card so that the reply letter card can be readily folded completely
enclosed and sealed in the letter card which can readily be opened without risk of
injury to the reply card or the written communication; and that when the said
letter card is thus opened the reply letter card becomes removed from the letter
card or the reply portion can be readily detached from the letter card and used for
reply as an ordinary letter card that can itself readily be opened without risk of
injury to the written communication and that the necessary or usual printing and
also the application of the adhesive substance for fastening both cards can be each
effected at one operation.
This combined letter and reply letter card is composed essentially of a single
piece of card or stout paper forming actually two complete letter cards the letter
card and the reply letter card connected together either directly or by means of an
intermediate strip of card or paper.
The letter card is either provided with lines of pinking extending all round the
card at a short distance from its edges; or provided with lines of pinking parallel
to and at a short distance from two parallel edges, one of the other edges being
provided with a gummed flap similar to the flap of an ordinary envelope and which
may be perforated to facilitate the opening of the letter card. An adhesive
substance is applied to the outer half of the edges of the card. outside the lines of
pinking so that the letter card can be completely closed up all round. The card is
opened in the usual manner by tearing off the edges of the card at the lines of
pinking and if a flap be used by also opening the flap as in opening an ordinary
envelope.
The reply card, which is smaller than the letter card, folds upon the inside of the
letter card on the inner and smaller edge or on the inner half of the larger edge in
such manner that the whole of it comes within the lines of pinking; and in order
to effect this purpose an intermediate strip of card corresponding to the distance of
the line of pinking from the edge of the card is arranged between the two cards
except in the case of the card provided with a flap.
The communication being written on the letter card the reply card is first folded
across its centre or usual folding line with the gummed or adhesive edges inside and
the printed side outside and is then folded on the inside of the letter card which is
sealed in the ordinary manner. When received it is opened in the usual manner
and as the reply card is entirely within the lines of pinking it is not liable to be torn.
The reply card is also detached by the opening of the letter card except when a flap
is used and in this case it is detached by tearing it along the line on which it is
folded on the inside of the letter card, and can be used as an ordinary letter card
for reply or otherwise.
The accompanying drawings show various modifications of this arrangement
A denoting the letter card, a the reply card, B the lines of pinking or perforation
on the letter card, b the lines of pinking or perforation on the reply card, C the flap on

page_text: the letter card, D the folding line between the two cards, E the folding line on the
letter card, e the folding line on the reply card, F the gummed edges on the letter
card, the gummed edges on the reply card. Gis the intermediate strip between the
two cards. Instead of any edge shown being gummed, the opposite or facing edge
when folded, may be gummed.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I would have it understood,
I am aware it is not novel to arrange a letter card and a reply letter card on one
piece of card or stout paper and I do not desire to claim the same but I declare
that what I claim is :-
1. A combined letter card and reply letter card for postal purposes arranged in
such manner that the whole of the reply card can be folded on a part of the letter
card reserved for the written communication that is to say within the lines of
pinking along which the letter card is opened substantially as described for the
purpose specified.
2. A combined letter card and reply letter card for postal purposes arranged
substantially as described with reference to Figures 1, 2 and 3, or to Figures 4 and 5,
or to Figures 6, 7 and 8 of the drawings.
Dated this 22nd November 1892.
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
40, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.