Improvements in Identification Cards or Sheets.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 26th Jan., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 8th Feb.. 1892-Accepted, 12th Mar., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Identification Cards or Sheets.
A. communication by BARNIM L. BEHRENDT, of Chicago, in the County of Cook,
and State of Illinois, United States of America.
I, 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
to be as follows:-
This invention relates to a so-called "identification card". - a card provided with
the portrait and autograph of the owner, and with a notarial or equivalent certi-
ficate with or without additional matter to identify the holder.
The object of the invention is mainly to prevent fraudulent alteration of the
card, and more particularly to prevent the substitution of one portrait for
another.
In carrying out, the invention, a flat card or sheet is provided composed of paper,
card-board, woven fabric, or other suitable material in two layers or thicknesses
cemented together.
A photographic or other portrait of the person to be identified is placed on a
sheet, which is cemented first between the two layers of the card having its central
portion exposed to view through an opening in the front sheet. This opening is
limited in size so that the front sheet covers and confines the marginal portion of
the picture.
In order to prevent the removal of the picture and its replacement by another,
the two layers or thicknesses of the card are united, and the picture is secured in
place thereto by means of paste or cement containing an aniline or other readily
soluble colouring matter, so that, if the card be steamed or otherwise damped to
soften the cement, the fugitive colour will at once spread and penetrating the sheets
leave upon the card a plain and permanent indication of the fact that it has been
tampered with. The colouring material may be used in any moderate proportion
in any suitable adhesive such as flour paste or glue.
By making use of a thick or viscid cement, the colouring matter may be used
without danger of its penetrating the paper in the first instance, but, when a thin
fluid is applied as required, as a solvent of the paste, it will penetrate and soften the
paper, dissolve the colour, and cause the same to penetrate and spread through the.
paper. The fugitive colour thus concealed and confined between the cemented
sheets affords a security against alteration not attainable by a fugitive surface
colour which can be readily removed and replaced.
It
As a further safeguard against the removal of the card, it is proposed to serrate
or indent the edges of the opening which are pasted down upon the portrait.
will be found impossible to soften and remove the sheet without mutilating and
disturbing these points in a noticeable manner.
On the portrait, and so as to be exposed through the opening, the name, address
and business of the person represented are printed or otherwise indicated. On one
side of the card, instructions as to the proper persons to be notified in the event of
accident to the holder of the card are placed. On the opposite side are placed the
autograph of the holder and the certificate and seal of the notary public identifying
the person represented as the one whose autograph appears on the card. The seal
of the notary and the seal or other impression of the company issuing the card will
also be impressed through the entire card and through the portrait.

page_text: The card constructed as above will, upon presentation by the holder, immediately
identify him beyond question. Owing to the existence of both the portrait and the
autograph, which latter he may be required to reproduce, it is impossible for the
card to be used by any other than the true holder.
As a still further protection against the use of the card by improper persons, and
to admit of its being mailed and delivered with certainty to the proper holder, it is
proposed to enclose it in a sealed envelope or jacket having in its face an
opening which exposes the portrait but conceals the other matters on the face of
the card.
When the card is presented, the receiver may demand a statement of the various
facts given on the card before the opening of the envelope and this information
it is obviously impossible for a stranger, or one who has chanced to find the card,
to give.
The card enclosed in an envelope as described may also be advantageously used
by bankers or other business men with their correspondence to identify a third
person in whose favor drafts are made or credit authorised.
In short, the card may be advantageously used by persons variously engaged at
banks, money order offices, registered letter offices, at post offices where nail is
addressed poste restante, in case of accident, in the event of arrest by reason of
mistaken identity, and in all places in which identification of the holder is necessary
or where he is unknown.
Dated this 25th day of January 1892.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Identification Cards or Sheets.
A communication by BARNIM L. BEHRENDT, of Chicago, in the County of Cook,
and State of Illinois, 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 ascer-
tained in and by the following statement:-
This invention relates to a so-called "identification card "a card provided with
the portrait and autograph of the owner, and with a notarial or equivalent certifi-
cate with or without additional matter to identify the holder.
The object of the invention is mainly to prevent fraudulent alteration of the
card, and more particularly to prevent the substitution of one portrait for
another.
In the accompanying drawings
Figure 1 is a perspective view of the improved card.
Figure 2 is a perspective view, partly in section, showing the manner in which
the portrait is secured in place.
Figure 3 is a perspective view of the card in its envelope or enclosure.
Figure is a cross section of the same on the line 4-4.
Referring to these drawings-
A flat card or sheet, A, is provided, composed of paper, card-board, woven
fabric, or other suitable material in two layers or thicknesses cemented together.
A photographic or other portrait B of the person to be identified is placed on a
.sheet, which is cemented first between the two layers of the card, having its central
portion exposed to view through an opening in the frout sheet. This opening is
limited in size so that the front sheet covers and confines the marginal portion of
the picture.

page_text: In order to prevent the removal of the picture and its replacement by another,
the two layers or thicknesses of the card are united and the picture is secured in
place thereto by means of a paste or cement containing an aniline or other readily
soluble colouring matter, so that, if the card he steamed or otherwise damped Lo
soften the cement, the fugitive colour will at once spread and, penetrating the
sheets, leave upon the card a plain and permanent indication of the fact that it has
been tampered with. The colouring material may be used in any moderate
proportion in any suitable adhesive such as flour paste or glue.
By making use of a thick or viscid cement, the colouring matter may be used
without danger of its penetrating the paper in the first instance, but, when a thin
fluid is applied as required as a solvent of the paste. it will penetrate and soften the
paper, dissolve the colour, and cause the same to penetrate and spread through the
paper. The fugitive colour thus concealed and confined between the cemented
sheets affords a security against alteration not attainable by a fugitive surface
colour which can be readily removed and replaced.
It
As a further safeguard against the removal of the card, it is proposed to serrate
or indent the edges of the opening which are pasted down upon the portrait.
will be found impossible to soften and remove the sheet without mutilating and
disturbing these points in a noticeable manner.
On the portrait, and so as to be exposed through the opening, the name, address
and business of the person represented are printed or otherwise indicated. On one
side of the card, instructions as to the proper persons to be notified in the event of
accident to the holder of the card are placed. On the opposite side are placed the
autograph of the holder and the certificate and scal of the notary public identifying
the person represented as the one whose autograph appears on the card. The seal
of the notary and the seal or other impression of the company issuing the card will
also be impressed through the entire card and through the portrait.
The card constructed as above will, upon presentation by the holder, immediately
identify him beyond question. Owing to the existence of both the portrait and the
autograph, which latter he may be required to reproduce, it is impossible for the
card to be used by any other than the true holder.
As a still further protection against the use of the card by improper persons, and
to admit of its being mailed and delivered with certainty to the proper holder, it is
proposed to enclose it in a sealed envelope or jacket C having in its face an
opening which exposes the portrait but conceals the other matters on the face of
the card.
When the card is presented, the receiver may demand a statement of the various
facts given on the card before the opening of the envelope, and this information it
is obviously impossible for a stranger, or one who has chanced to find the card,
to give.
The card enclosed in an envelope as described may also be advantageously used
by bankers or other business men with their correspondence to identify a third
person in whose favour drafts are made or credit authorised.
In short, the card may be advantageously used by persons variously engaged at
banks, money order offices, registered letter offices, at post offices where mail is
addressed "poste restante," in case of accident, in the event of arrest by reason of
mistaken identity, and in all places in which identification of the holder is necessary
or where he is unknown.
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. The identification card consisting of a back sheet, a perforated front sheet
bearing the autograph of the owner and cemented to the back sheet, and a third
sheet cemented to and between the other sheets and bearing a portrait of the owner
exposed through the opening in the front sheet.
2. The identification card, having the exposed portrait cemented between the

page_text: front and rear sheets, the inner edge of the opening being indented and cemented
to the face of the portrait as and for the purpose described.
3. An identification card bearing the autograph and a portrait of the person
identified, the portrait attached by an adhesive having a readily soluble colouring
matter associated therewith in order that the damping and softening of the adhesive
may be followed by the charging of the card with colour.
4. An identification card bearing a portrait and an autograph or other iden-
tifying entries, in combination with a sealed envelope enclosing the same and
provided with an opening through which the portrait alone is exposed to view.
Dated this 6th day of February 1892,
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.