IMPROVEMENTS IN COMBINED ENVELOPES AND LETTER PAPER, MEMORANDUM PAPER, NOTE PAPER, INVOICE AND ACCOUNT HEADS, A PART OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS IS TO COVERS AND ENVELOPES FOR POSTAL AND ALSO APPLICABLE PURPOSES
Year: 1872

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Isaac Evans, of Birmingham, in the County of
Warwick, Manufacturer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
COMBINED ENVELOPES AND LETTER PAPER, MEMORANDUM PAPER, NOTE
PAPER, INVOICE AND ACCOUNT HEADS, A PART OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS IS
TO COVERS AND ENVELOPES FOR POSTAL AND
ALSO
APPLICABLE
PURPOSES "
OTHER
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Isaac Evans at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
6th November 1872.
1, ISAAC EVANS, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Manu-
facturer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN COMBINED ENVELOPES AND LETTER PAPER, MEMORANDUSI
PAPER, NOTE PAPER, INVOICE AND ACCOUNT HEADS, A PART OF WHICH IMPROVE-
MENTS IS ALSO APPLICABLE TO COVERS AND ENVELOPES FOR POSTAL AND OTHER
PURPOSES," to be as follows:-
:―
My improvements have for their objects principally to give increased
security to a folded letter, note, memorandum, invoice, and account,

page_text: facility in opening the same and detaching and utilizing parts thereof.
A part of my improvements is also applicable to covers and envelopes
for postal and other purposes.
My said improvements are as follows:-In applying my Invention to
a combined envelope and letter paper, I perforate the top flap of the
envelope or cover part near its edges so as to form a perforated border
or strip, the said perforated border or strip being gummed on its inner
side. The letter paper is folded and covered by the envelope part. The
gummed perforated border or strip of the flap is then wetted and the
said flap secured on its three sides to the envelope part.
Great security
in the fastening of the letter is thus obtained.
In opening the letter it is necessary to detach and raise that part of
the flap of the envelope part within the perforated border or edge. This
is effected by raising one of the corners of the said perforated part of the
flap, and in order to facilitate the said detaching of the flap from the
border or strip gummed to the envelope part I provide the perforated
part with a lip under which the finger nail can be placed, so as to lift
and tear the perforations. I form this lip by making a cut or incision
at one or at each of the corners of the perforated part, or the required
incision may be made at any other part of the perforated border or strip.
By this means the flap of the envelope or cover is readily detached from
the fixed or gummed border for opening the letter, without tearing or
injuring the letter or flap. I also perforate the sheet transversely
between the envelope or cover part and letter part, and also longi-
tudinally at each side of the sheet in a line with the vertical edges
of the perforated top flap already described. By means of the said
perforations the envelope or cover part and the side flaps can readily
be detached from the letter part without risk of tearing or injuring the
said letter part. Thus the side flaps of the sheet and the envelope or
cover part, if they are not required to be preserved, may be detached
from the letter; or when it is wished to retain the post stamp or date
stamp of the letter the side flaps only may be detached, leaving the
envelope part connected with the letter.
In order to utilize the flap of the envelope part and the detachable
parts of the sheet, the business advertisement or trade mark of the
person sending the letter or other advertisements, woodcuts, and
announcements may be printed upon them.

page_text: .
· By a combined envelope and letter paper, note paper, memorandum
paper, invoice and account head, I wish it to be understood that I mean
either a plain sheet or piece of paper shaped for folding and securing,
or a sheet or piece of paper partly printed upon, and I apply my
Invention to such sheets or pieces substantially in the manner herein-.
before described with respect to a combined envelope and letter paper.
The combined envelope and letter paper, memorandum paper, note
paper, invoice and account head made as described may be creased and
folded up in an envelope form for sale. By unfolding the sheet it is
ready for use, and may with little loss of time be refolded and secured
for post or messenger.
.
In applying my Invention to post or other cards I provide the card
with a perforated flap or cover of the kind herein-before described with
respect to a combined envelope and letter paper. This flap when
secured to the edge of the card covers and conceals the contents thereof.
The flap is detached from the card by tearing and lifting the middle
part from the perforated edge or border, which remains secured to the
card.
Similarly I perforate the flap or cover of an envelope or apply thereto
a separate perforated flap or cover. In the latter case in order to obtain
access to the flap of the envelope it is necessary, first, to tear and raise
the separate perforated flap or cover.
The outer side, or both outer and inner sides of the flaps may have
printed upon them the advertisement or trade mark of the person sending
the card or letter or other advertisements or announcements.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Isaac Evans in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
1st May 1873.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ISAAC
EVANS, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Manufacturer, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Sixth day of November, in the year

page_text: In opening the letter it is necessary to detach and raise that part of
the flap of the envelope part within the perforated border or edge.
This is effected by raising one of the corners of the said perforated part
of the flap, and in order to facilitate the said detaching of the flap from
the border or strip gummed to the envelope part, I provide the per-
forated part with a lip, under which the finger nail can be placed so as
to lift and tear the perforations. I form this lip by making a cut or
incision at one or each of the corners of the perforated part, or the
required incision may be made at any other part of the perforated
border or strip. By this means the flap of the envelope or cover is
readily detached from the fixed or gummed border for opening the
letter without tearing or injuring the letter or flap. I also perforate the
sheet transversely between the envelope or cover part and the letter
part, and also longitudinally at each side of the sheet in a line with the
vertical edges of the perforated top flap already described. By means
of the said perforations the envelope or cover part and the side flaps can
readily be detached from the letter part without risk of tearing or
injuring the said letter part. Thus the side flaps of the sheet and the
envelope or cover part if they are not required to be preserved may be
detached from the letter, or when it is wished to retain the post stamp
or date stamp of the letter, the side flaps only may be detached leaving
the envelope part connected with the letter.
In order to utilize the flap of the envelope part and the detachable
parts of the sheet, the buisness advertisment or trade mark of the
person sending the letter, or other advertisments, woodcuts and
announcements may be printed upon them.
The combined envelope and letter paper, memorandum paper, note
paper, invoice and account head made as described may be creased and
folded up in an envelope form for sale. By unfolding the sheet it is
ready for use and may with little loss of time be refolded and secured
for post or messenger.
In applying my Invention to post or other cards, I provide the card
with a perforated flap or cover of the kind herein-before described with
respect to a combined envelope and letter paper. This flap when
secured to the edge of the card covers and conceals the contents thereof.
The flap is detached from the card by tearing and lifting the middle
part from the perforated edge or border which remains secured to the
card.

page_text: Similarly I perforate the flap or cover of an envelope, or apply
thereto a separate perforated flap or cover. In the latter case in order.
to obtain access to the flap of the envelope it is necessary first to tear:
and raise the separate perforated flap or cover.
The outer side or both outer and inner sides of the flaps may have
printed upon them the advertisment or trade mark of the person sending
the card or letter or other advertisments or announcements.
Having explained the nature of my Invention, I will proceed to
describe with reference to the accompanying Drawings, the manner in
which the same is to be performed.
Figure 1 represents a combined envelope and letter paper made
according to my Invention. a is the letter part; and the envelope_
part; c is the top flap of the envelope part; and d is the perforated
border or strip of the said top flap, the inner side of the said border or
strip d being gummed; e, e, are the incisions at the corners of the
perforated border constituting the lips, by means of which the flap c
may be readily raised for opening the letter; d³ is the transverse line of
perforations separating the letter part a from the envelope part b;"
and d³, d, are the longitudinal lines of perforations separating the side
pieces ff from the letter part. The envelope part 6 is furnished with
side wings 9, 9, upon which the perforated border d is gummed when
the letter is closed. The rectangular divisions on the side flaps or
pieces ff of the letter, and also on the envelope part indicate the
manner in which the said parts may be utilized by writing or printing
thereon advertisements, trade marks, woodcuts, and other announce-
ments. The perforations at de, ds, enable the envelope part b, and also
the side parts f. f, to be readily detached from the letter when required.
The positions of the transverse and longitudinal perforations d², d³, may
be varied.
The manner in which the combined envelope and letter paper is folded
is illustrated in Figures 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6, that is to say, the side
pieces ff are first folded upon the centre of the letter part a, as
illustrated in Figure 2. The partly folded letter, Figure 2, is again
folded at the transverse creases, and the side wings g, g, folded thereon,
as illustrated in Figure 3. The folded letter is now ready to be closed.
This is effected by wetting the gummed inner side of the perforated
border d, and pressing it down upon the wings g, g, as illustrated-in

page_text: Figure 4. The flap c of the envelope is thus secured on its three sides,
and the letter thereby very securely fastened. To open the letter the
lips at e, e, are raised by inserting the finger nail under them. By this
means the perforations of the border d may be readily torn, and the part
of the flap c within the perforated border lifted from the said border, as
illustrated in Figure 5, where the flap is represented partly raised. By
completely raising the flap c and tearing the cross perforations at d³, d³,
(or the cross perforations at d*, d', may be omitted) the wings g, g, may.
be raised taking with them a portion of the border d, and the letter may
be opened.
Figure 7 represents a combined envelope and letter or memorandum'
paper made according to my Invention, in which the letter or memo-
randum part is wider than that first described; Figures 8 and 9
represent front and back elevations of the same folded. The whole;
of this letter paper is divided into spaces in which may be written.
or printed trade announcements of various kinds; or the centre of this
letter paper may be used for a bill head, or account head, or memo-
randum paper.
Figure 10 represents a combined envelope and invoice or account.
head made according to my Invention; and Figure 11 represents the
same folded and secured.
Figure 11ª represents a combined envelope and note or memorandum.
paper made according to my Invention; Figure 12 represents the same
folded; and Figure 13 represents the same secured by the perforated
gummed border of the envelope part.
By a combined envelope and letter paper, memorandum paper,
invoice, and account head, I wish it to be understood that I mean
either a plain sheet or piece of paper shaped for folding and securing,
or a sheet or piece of paper partly printed upon.
Figure 14 represents an ordinary wrapper provided with a perforated
flap according to my Invention; and Figure 15 represents the same.
folded.
Figure 16 represents an unfolded envelope, the flap of which is
made according to my Invention, that is, furnished with a perforated.
border gummed on its inner side; and Figure 17 represents the same
folded.

page_text: Figure 18 represents a separate flap or cover having a perforated
border to be applied to the back of an ordinary envelope for the purpose
of protecting the flap thereof; and Figure 19 represents the said
separate flap or cover applied to the back of an envelope. In this
case the bottom edge d³ of the separate flap or cover d is gummed
to the bottom edge of the back of the envelope e, and after the letter
has been placed in the envelope and the ordinary flap e secured to the
envelope, the additional flap or cover d is secured upon the flap e² of the
envelope.
Figures 20 and 21 represent in back and front elevations a post or
other card, to the back or writing side of which a perforated flap or cover
of the kind last described is applied.
To obtain access to the envelope or to uncover the post or other card,
the separate flap or cover is lifted and torn in the manner herein.before
fully described with respect to the flap of a combined envelope and letter
paper.
Instead of attaching a separate flap or cover to the post or other
card, the said cover may be made in one piece with the card. In this
case a piece of strong paper of double the size of the card is taken and
folded at its middle, one part constituting the card, and the other part
the protecting flap or cover, which is perforated as herein-before
described. A post card and cover of this kind is represented in
Figure 22, where the card part is marked a; the perforated flap or
cover made in one piece with the card is marked ; and the perforated
border of the flap or cover is marked d.
The shape and size of the various sheets or pieces of paper, herein-
before enumerated, may be varied according to the purposes to which
they are to be applied.
Having now described the nature of my Invention, and the manner
in which the same is to be performed, I wish it to be understood that
I do not limit myself to the precise details herein described and illus-
trated as the same may be varied without departing from the nature
of my Invention; but I claim as my Invention of improvements in
combined envelopes and letter paper, memorandum paper, note paper,
invoice, and account heads, and in covers and envelopes for postal and
other purposes,-
-
Firstly. Perforating the top-flap of the envelope part of the sheet

page_text: or piece of paper so as to form a perforated border or strip to the said
flap, for the purpose and substantially as herein-before described and
illustrated in the accompanying Drawings; also the application of the
said perforated border or strip to envelopes and wrappers for postal and
other purposes.
Secondly. Perforating the sheet or piece of paper transversely and
longitudinally, in the manner herein-before described and illustrated
in the accompanying Drawings, for the purpose of facilitating the
detaching of the envelope or cover part, and the side pieces from the
letter, memorandum, note, invoice, or account head part of the sheet.
Thirdly. Arranging the parts of the sheet or piece of paper con-
stituting the combined envelope and letter paper, memorandum paper,
note paper, invoice, and account head, in the manner described and
illustrated in the accompanying Drawings.
Lastly. Applying to ordinary envelopes and to post and other cards
a separate perforated flap or cover of the kind described and illustrated
in the accompanying Drawings, also making the perforated flap or cover
in one piece with the post or other card, as herein-before described-and
illustrated in the accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Isaac Evans, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Thirtieth day of April, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three.
Witness,.
ARTHUR LABRAM.
ISAAC EVANS. (L.S.)
i