Improvements in Letters of Credit or other like Documents, Applicable for Purposes of Introduction or Identification.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 14th May, 1889-Accepted, 22nd June, 1889
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Letters of Credit or other like Documents,
Applicable for Purposes of Introduction or Identification.
A communication from abroad by FREDERICK WALTER HAYES, of Detroit, Michigan,
United States of America.
1, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON F.C.S. M.I.M.E. of the Agency for Foreign
Patent Solicitors 6 Lord Street Liverpool and 6 Bank Street Manchester both in
the County of Lancaster and 323 High Holborn in the County of Middlesex, Civil
Engineer, 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 :-
Hertofore, where letters of credit or other documents in connection with business,
social, and scientific affairs have been issued by banks, financial or commercial institu-
tions or individuals, it has been customary to require the person in whose favour the
same have been drawn to sign such instruments or documents, and specimens of the
said signatures are also occasionally transmitted to the branches of the issuer or its
correspondents to whom the person is accredited, and when presented, the signature of
the person so accredited to a cheque or draft is compared with that upon the letter of
credit or other document, or with the specimen of the signature from the issuer as
above stated, and reliance is had upon such inspection to identify the said party.
Imposition may, however, be practised. A sharper may get possession of such letters
of credit or documents, and, by practice, may become able to readily forge the
signature, so that, by signing a check, draft, or other paper, a comparison with the
signature on the letters of credit or specimen might enable him to draw the money or
assume the name and character of the person accredited.
To thwart such imposition, and to provide a letter of credit or document with
identification not open to error, is the object of this invention.
In the drawings
Figure 1 is a view of a letter of introduction or identification embodying the
invention.
A picture of the person to whom it was issued, is combined with the usual letter of
credit or other document. This may be in the form of a picture affixed to the face of
the said letters, or the paper constituting said letter may be suitably, sensitised, so
that the picture may be taken directly upon the sheet itself. So also to avoid the
possibility of the picture being removed and replaced by another, a seal may be
employed in connection therewith, in the nature of cameo and intaglio dies peculiar to
the institution issuing said letters or documents, and which may press through both
the paper and the picture all around the figure of the person, but which shall leave
that portion embracing the face and head without mutilation. By this means, it
becomes impossible to remove the picture and replace with another, without destroying
the seal or so mutilating the same as to show upon inspection that it has been tampered
with.
Again, to avoid the possibility of the unstamped face or head portion being skilfully
detached and the similar portion being inserted from the picture of the would be
forger, it is preferable that the picture on the letter or other document shall have
coupled with it a view of some surrounding furniture or scenery, and that this shall
not only show upon the unstamped head or face portion, but shall extend therefrom
out into those portions which are pressed and mutilated by the seal. The practical
impossibility of being able to match the scenery portions of the picture will effectually
foil such an attempt.
Again, to accomplish the purpose of preventing fraud and imposition, a separate
latter or card of introduction and identification provided with the improved meana
Ос

page_text: stated above, for properly identifying the party in whose favour the letter or document
is drawn, may be used in connection with the ordinary letter of credit or other
documents.
The picture itself, coupled with the signature, will, in all cases, be sufficient to
identify the proper holder.
it is customary with the ordinary letters of credit or other documents, for some
institutions to withhold duplicate signatures and to have their branches, and corre-
spondents rely wholly upon comparison of the signature on the letter of credit or other
documents carried by the person to whom issued, with the signature on the cheque, draft,
or other paper made and signed in the presence of the party to whom it is presented.
In this latter class, this invention affords an almost infallible safeguard against
imposition.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me
by my foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is:
1. A letter of credit or other identification document, having affixed thereto or
produced thereon a picture of the person in whose favour it is issued, said picture
and letter embossed by pressure between the dies of a seal, the picture and paper
being mutilated by the seal around that portion embracing the head and face, the
latter being left uninjured, substantially as described.
2. A letter of credit or other identification document, having affixed thereto or pro-
duced thereon a picture of the person in whose favour it is issued, the picture embracing
also a background and surrounding of furniture or scenery, said picture and letter
embossed by pressure between the dies of a seal, the picture and paper being
mutilated by the seal in that portion of the picture comprising said furniture or
scenery, that portion embracing the head and face being left uninjured, substantially
as described.
Dated this 12th day of No 1000
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, Agents for the Applicant.