IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PREPARATION AND TREATMENT OF PAPER FOR CHEQUES, NOTES, STAMPS AND OTHER DOCUMENTS IN ORDER TO PREVENT FRAUD
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William John Clapp of Nantyglo in the County of
Monmouth Surgeon for an Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PREPARATION
AND TREATMENT OF PAPER FOR CHEQUES, NOTES, STAMPS AND OTHER
DOCUMENTS IN ORDER TO PREVENT FRAUD
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William John Clapp at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 15th October 1883.
WILLIAM JOHN CLAPP of Nantyglo in the County of Monmouth Surgeon
IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PREPARATION AND TREATMENT OF PAPER FOR CHEQUES,
NOTES, STAMPS AND OTHER DOCUMENTS IN ORDER TO PREVENT FRAUD
The invention has for its object improvements in the treatment of paper for
cheques, notes, stamps and other documents in order to prevent fraud.
For this purpose I saturate the paper either in the process of manufacture or
afterwards with a solution of gallic, tannic or gallo-tannic acid mixed with gum
acacia or other suitable, gum and alum.
This treatment will make little change, if any, in the color of the paper but will
render it everywhere sensitive to the action of preparations of iron.
I print and write on paper prepared as above with an ink or preparation
containing ferri-sesqui-chloride or other similar preparations of iron thereby
causing the writing and printing to pass entirely through the body of the paper
whereby in the event of any portion of the writing on the cheque, note, stamp or
other document being obliterated the printing will also be removed and the color
of the body of the cheque or other document so altered as to render the attempted
alteration apparent.
This will also be the effect when any attempt is made to remove the obliterating
mark from stamps and other documenta
I also prefer to print on both sides of the cheque or other document in order to
increase the difficulty of alteration../

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said William John Clapp in the Patent Office on the 9th April 1884.
WILLIAM JOHN CLAPP of Nantyglo in the County of Monmouth, Surgeon
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PREPARATION AND TREATMENT OF PAPER FOR CHEQUES,
NOTES, STAMPS AND OTHER DOCUMENTS IN ORDER TO PREVENT FRAUD
"
The invention has for its object improvements in the treatment of paper for
cheques, notes, stamps and other documents in order to prevent fraud.
For this purpose I saturate the paper either in the process of manufacture or
afterwards with a solution of gallic, tannic or gallo-tannic acid mixed with gum
acacia or other suitable gum and alum.
The solution above described must be sufficiently fluid or watery to enable it to
be readily taken up by the paper and yet of sufficient strength to produce the
effect desired.
It will be found that a saturated solution of the acid and alum or a solution
slightly, weaker combined with a small proportion of gum in solution will answer
the purpose.
This treatment will make little change, if any, in the colour of the paper but
will render it everywhere sensitive to the action of preparations of iron.
In some cases I add to the acid solution a few drops of the preparation of iron
bereinafter referred to in order to facilitate the action on the prepared paper of
inks which are weak in the iron constituent.
In the event of its being desired to print on the prepared paper in colours then
I add to the acid solution a proportion of some alkali which shall to a certain
extent neutralize the acid which latter is however left in sufficient excess to answer
the purposes of my Invention.
I print and write on paper prepared as above and afterwards dried with an ink
or preparation containing ferri-sesqui-chloride or other similar preparations of iron
in quantity sufficient to cause the writing and printing to pass entirely through
the body of the paper whereby in the event of any portion of the writing on the
cheque, note, stamp or other document being obliterated the printing will also be
removed and the colour of the body of the cheque or other document so altered as
to render the attempted alteration apparent.
This will also be the effect when any attempt is made to remove the obliterating
mark from stamps and other documents.
I also prefer to print on both sides of the cheque or other document in order to
increase the difficulty of alteration.
I also prefer to glaze the back of the paper
Having thus described the nature of my said invention and the mode in which I
carry the same into effect I would have it understood that what I claim is the
preparation and treatment of paper for the purposes described by saturating it
with a solution of gallic, tannic or gallo-tannic acid mixed with gum and alum
and by printing and writing on such prepared paper with an ink or preparation
containing ferri-sesqui-chloride or other similar preparations of iron substantially
as herein described and for the purpose stated.
In witness whereof I the said William John Clapp have hereunto set my hand
and seal this Twenty second day of March in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty four.
WILLIAM JOHN CLAPP (LS)