IMPROVEMENTS IN PRINTING CHECKS AND OTHER DOCUMENTS FOR THE PREVENTION OF FRAUD, APPLICABLE TO OTHER PRINTING PURPOSES
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Alfred Simmons, of Penge, in the County of
Surrey, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN PRINTING CHECKS AND
OTHER DOCUMENTS FOR THE PREVENTION OF FRAUD, APPLICABLE TO OTHER
PRINTING PURPOSES."
ealed the 2nd February 1877, and dated the 21st October 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Alfred Simmons at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 21st October 1876.
WILLIAM ALFRED SIMMONS, of Penge, in the County of Surrey. "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN PRINTING CHECKS AND OTHER DOCUMENTS FOR THE PREVENTION OF
FRAUD, APPLICABLE TO OTHER PRINTING PURPOSES."
This Invention relates to improvements in printing checks and other banking
and merchantile forms and other documents for the purpose of preventing fraud by
any attempt at altering them after their values have been filled in by the owner or
otherwise, the Invention being also applicable for printing designs or works of arts
in colors.
Type, lithographic, or other printing surfaces may be employed in carrying out
my improvements according to the character of the printing to which my Invention
is applied, as the type or printing surfaces employed may be of the ordinary
description in common use. For this purpose in carrying out my Invention for
producing a check or other similar document, I first print the surface of the paper or
other material used with a colorless fluid, varnish, or other suitable matter, as is well
understood mixed with whiting or other materials (colored for some purposes) to
give body thereto. Before the surface thus printed is dry I dust it over with a
powder of the color it is intended to impart to the printed surface, this colored
powder having a small quantity of sugar or other suitable soluble substance com-
bined or mixed with it. The surface thus printed on the application of moisture
thereto can be easily removed, and when once written upon, the writing cannot be
altered or obliterated without injury to the colored surface, thereby affording the
means of detection if a fraud is attempted. By this means designs and works of
art may also be printed in water colors so as to obtain very novel and beautiful
effects.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Alfred Simmons in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
21st April 1877.
WILLIAM ALFRED SIMMONS, of Penge, in the County of Surrey. "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN PRINTING CHECKS AND OTHER DOCUMENTS FOR THE PREVENTION OF
FRAUD, APPLICABLE TO OTHER PRINTING PURPOSES."
This Invention relates to improvements in printing checks and other banking
and mercantile forms and other documents for the purpose of preventing fraud by
any attempt at altering them after their values have been filled in by the owner or
otherwise, the Invention being also applicable for printing designs or works of art
in colors.
Type, lithographic, or other printing surfaces may be employed in carrying out
my improvements according to the character of the printing to which my Invention
is applied, as the type or printing surfaces employed may be of the ordinary
description in common use. For this purpose in carrying out my Invention for pro-
ducing a check or other similar document, I first print the surface of the paper or
other material used with a colourless fluid, varnish, or other suitable matter, as is
well understood mixed with whiting or other materials (coloured for some purposes)
to give body thereto. Before the surface thus printed is dry, I dust it over with a
powder of the color it is intended to impart to the printed surface, this colored
powder having a small quantity of sugar or other suitable soluble substance com-
bined or mixed with it. The surface thus printed on the application of moisture
thereto can be easily removed, and when once written upon, the writing cannot be
altered or obliterated without injury to the coloured surface, thereby affording the
means of detection if a fraud is attempted. By this means designs and works of
art may also be printed in water colors so as to obtain very novel and beautiful
effects.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention and the manner of performing
or carrying the same into practice, I would have it understood that I do not limit
myself to the exact details herein described so long as the broad principle of my
Invention is retained, but what I claim is, the improved method of printing checks
and other documents for the prevention of fraud, works of art, and other printing
purposes, substantially in the manner and for the purposes herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Alfred Simmons, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twentieth day of April, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.
Witness,
EDWARD BLAKE,
Clerk to Tongue & Birkbeck,
34, Southampton Buildings,
W.C.
W. A. DIMMOND. (L.S.)