CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN BANKERS' CHEQUES WHEREBY FRAUD IS DETECTED AND PREVENTED, APPLICABLE TO OTHER CHEQUES FOR ANALOGOUS PURPOSES.”
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Lewis, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick,
Accountant, for the Invention of "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN BANKERS'
CHEQUES WHEREBY FRAUD IS DETECTED AND PREVENTED, APPLICABLE TO
OTHER CHEQUES FOR ANALOGOUS PURPOSES.”
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Lewis at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 17th July 1879.
JOHN LEWIS, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Accountant. "CERTAIN
IMPROVEMENTS IN BANKERS' CHEQUES WHEREBY FRAUD IS DETECTED AND PRE-
VENTED, APPLICABLE TO OTHER CHEQUES FOR ANALOGOUS PURPOSES."
The object of this my Invention is to prevent the falsifying of any given cheque,
and thereby preventing fraud.
I will now describe my Invention as applied to an ordinary banker's cheque. At
the one end of the cheque, crosswise, I arrange a series of columns or paragraphs
divisable by perforation or other suitable means. In each of the said paragraphs I
have printed or impressed the corresponding number to the cheque, followed by, in
the first column (say ten pounds and under), in the second column, ten pounds and
under twenty five pounds, increasing in amount in each column, so that upon the
giving of a cheque for any amount it is simply necessary to separate that portion
indicating a larger amount and to leave remaining that column only which indicates
the amount, or the intermediate amount, for which the cheque is given. I also
arrange for one corner of the cheque (most suitable to my requirement) to be
perforated or otherwise, so that it may be readily separated, and upon this corner I
print or impress these words "If this cheque is required to be paid through a banker,
tear this off."

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent-filed-by=
the said John Lewis in the Great-Seal-Patent Office on the 17th January
1880..
JOHN LEWIS, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Accountant. " CERTAIN
IMPROVEMENTS IN BANKERS' CHEQUES-WHEREBY FRAUD IS DETECTED AND PRE-
VENTED, APPLICABLE TO OTHER CHEQUES FOR ANALOGOUS PURPOSES."
The object of my Invention is to prevent or limit the falsifying of any given
cheque, thereby preventing or placing a limit upon the extent of the fraud.
I will describe my Invention as applicable to ordinary bankers' cheques thus:-
At one end of the cheque, crosswise, I arrange a series of columns or paragraphs
divisable by perforations or other suitable means. In each of the said paragraphs I
print or perforate the corresponding number to the cheque, followed by, in the first
column, say, "twenty pounds and under," in the second column, "twenty pounds and
under eighty pounds," or other equivalent words or figures, increasing in amount in
each column, so that upon giving a cheque for any amount it is simply necessary to
separate that portion indicating a larger amount and to leave remaining that column
or columns which limit the amount for which the cheque is drawn.
I also arrange for one corner of the cheque most suitable to my requirement to be
perforated or otherwise, so that it may be readily separated, and upon this corner I
print or impress the words "If this cheque is required to be paid through a banker,
tear this off," or other similar words.
"
In order that my Invention may be more clearly comprehended I append a Sheet
of Drawings which represent three modifications of my cheques.
"
Figure 1 represents a cheque having four series of limits, viz., twenty," "eighty,"
one hundred and sixty," and three hundred pounds. Now suppose the cheque to
be drawn for seventy nine pounds, it would have to be detached at the C line of
perforations; for other amounts it could be separated at D, B, or A line of
perforations.
Figure 2 is a more simple modification having only three vertical columns and
three perforations, viz., E, F, and G, the limiting amounts being "under 50,"
"under 100," and "over 100." If this cheque were drawn for ninety pounds it
would then be torn off at the line F, in which case it could not possibly be increased
to more than one hundred pounds, the amount of the limit. The lines H, H, and
J, J, are placed for the purpose of preventing any additions to the figures producing
the limits. I also use the U mark m or other stop to prevent any addition to the
limiting figures.
Figure 3.illustrates a still more simple modification of one of my cheques which
would probably be found to answer the requirements of-most-people in this country.
In this case I only use one limit of sixty or other suitable amount, with a column
containing the word "unlimited” or other equivalent word or indication, so that by
leaving this "unlimited" column on the cheque the said cheque may be filled up for
any amount, as is the case with ordinary cheques now in use; thus by a slight
addition to the length of the cheque I am enabled to limit a large percentage of all
the cheques drawn. In some cases I also add another column containing the word
negotiable, in which case I add to the unlimited column the words "not negotiable,"
so that the user may tear off the cheque to be either negotiable or not as he may
choose.
As an extra security in the case of crossed cheques I make a provision for tearing
off one corner of the cheque, as shown in both Figures 1, 2, and 3, which sufficiently
illustrate this part of my Invention, which may or may not be used in conjunction
with the before mentioned vertical columns.
I usually print the limiting portions of the cheques in the manufacture of the
paper, i.e., in water mark, in which case the amount may be printed in ink for the

page_text: convenience of the drawer, as shown at n, Figure 2, the water marked figures being
noticed by the payer of the cheque. In the division lines I use perforations of a
special character, as shown in each Figure 1, 2, or 3, which finish a considerable
distance above the bottom edge of the cheque, leaving a plain space which I call
the test portion of the cheque, as any attempt to splice on a counterfoil under cover
of the perforations is at once detected by an experienced eye, and tested in the
hands by placing a tension upon this test portion of each cheque.
For the purpose of preventing the removal of the limits altogether I make an
indelible old English or other mark in the paper under the printed or other
mark. I also print in any convenient part of the body of the cheque in indelible
letters the words "Lewis' Patent" or other equivalent words, so that any attempt
to transform these cheques into ordinary ones would be at once detected.
Thus it will be clearly understood that I establish a series of limits in conjunction
with vertical columns to meet any requirements, and that by the removal of a
corner of the cheque I clearly indicate that it has been crossed, which is also
applicable to bankers' cheques and other similar instruments by which I lessen and
prevent frauds.
Having now described the nature of my Invention of certain improvements in
bankers' cheques whereby fraud, is detected and prevented, applicable to other
cheques for analogous purposes, I would have it clearly understood that I do not
confine myself to the exact details herein described, as they may be varied to suit
various requirements, but what I do claim is,—
First. Bankers' or other cheques having vertical columns for preventing or
limiting fraudulent alteration of the cheques, substantially as herein before described
and shewn in the Drawings.
Second. Cheques having the special provision for indicating that the cheque is or
has been "crossed," substantially as hereinbefore described and shewn in the
Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Lewis, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, this Thirteenth day of January, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty.
Witnessed by
JAS. FRANCIS,
Clerk to Mr. Barker.
JOHN LEWIS. (L.S.)