IMPROVEMENTS IN PHOTOGRAPHIC ALBUMS
Year: 1862

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Pierre Louis Forestier, of Paris, in the Empire
of France, Fancy Paper Maker, for the Invention of " IMPROVEMENTS IN
PHOTOGRAPHIC ALBUMS,"
Sealed the 30th January 1863, and dated the 20th September 1862.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Pierre Louis Forestier at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 20th September 1862.
1, PIERRE LOUIS FORESTIER, .of.Paris, in the Empire of France, Fancy
Paper Maker, do hereby declare the nature of the said .Invention for "Ix-
PROVEMENTS IN PHOTOGRAPHIC ALBUMS," to be as follows:-
My Invention consists in an improved mode of preparing the leaves of
photographic albums with a view to the production of the bevel edged
openings hitherto.exclusively applied to glass covered passe-partouts, and
similar framings.
To this end, I commence by cutting in thin cardboard or strong paper of
the required dimensions an opening, corresponding with the outline of the
proof to be framed, and ornamented or left plain, at will... Over this first
sheet I paste a second, formed of cardboard, corresponding in thickness
with the depth of bevel required, and having a centre opening somewhat
larger than the first. Over this I apply a third sheet of thin card, with
a smaller opening than the preceding provided with an ornamental border,

page_text: from which the bevel is formed by pressure as in ordinary passe-partouts.
Finally, I employ, when necessary, a fourth sheet formed of Bristol board or
other paper, the opening of which precisely corresponds with the outline of
the bevel edge, and which may be gaufered or otherwise ornamented at will.
To form a double faced leaf, from each pair of single frames completed as
above, I glue them back to back, after interposing at the centre two thick-
nesses of cardboard, which represent the space to be occupied by the
photographic proofs. The slideway for the introduction of the proofs may
be reserved at any suitable point, top, bottom, or side. The leaves, prepared
as above, are bound into albums in the ordinary way, the form, dimensions,
and decorative details being varied according to circumstances.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Pierre Lonis Forestier in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 24th February 1863.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, PIERRE
LOUIS FORESTIER, of Paris, in the Empire of France, Fancy Paper Maker,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twentieth day of September, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two, in the twenty-sixth year of Her
.reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Pierre Louis Forestier, Her special licence that I, the said Pierre Louis
Forestier,my executors, administrators, and assigns,or such others as I, the said
Pierre Louis Forestier, my executors, administrators,and assigns, should atany
time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter
during the terin therein expressed, should and lawfully might inake, use,
exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland,
the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
PHOTOGRAPHIC ALBUMS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the
said Pierre Louis Forestier, my executors or administrators, by an instru-
ment in writing under my, or their, or one of thei: hands and seals,
should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention,
and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to
be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next
aud immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Pierre Louis Forestier, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement thereof, that is to say :-
My photographic album differs from others because instead of the cartes
or photographic portraits being bordered only by a flat margin in my album
they are surrounded by a bevil edge, either hollow or round, white or
gilt, stamped or figured, and if wished, any designs,such as flowers or foliage
may be printed on or around the bevil edge. The difference between my
album and those ordinarily made exists entirely in the interior.
The improved mode of manufacture is as follows:-1stly, I cut in a thin card
or strong paper an opening of the size necessary for framing the portrait.
The border of this paper may be coloured or gilt, or otherwise ornamented.
2ndly, I take a card of the thickness of which it is intended to make the
bevil edge, and in it I cut an opening a little larger than the first, to which
I paste it.
3rdly, I cut in another card an opening a little smaller than the preceding,
then I gild or colour the border of the opening or otherwise ornament it,
which operation finishes the form of the bevil edge, and this card is next
pasted to that from which the bevil edge is formed.
4thly, and lastly, I apply another card in which an opening is cut larger
than the bevil edge. This card may be ornamented by gilding, or colour,
or otherwise, and is pasted on the last-named card, forming the face of the
page.
For the purpose of forming a double-faced leaf, I glue two similar frames
back to back, previously interposing a card of about the thickness of the
space occupied by two photographic portraits, and from which one side is
removed to form an opening for the passage of the portrait, which passage
may be reserved either at the top, bottom, or side of the page. These leaves
are bound into albums in the ordinary manner. The frames may be made,
if desired, with a small opening in the cardboard below the portraits for the
insertion of names, and so arranged as to allow of their removal or change
without injury to the album. The bevil edges may be applied to card
frames of all forms and sizes. The leaves of passe-partout albums of any
size, and with any number of openings in the saine sheet, may also be made
with bevil edged frames.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention and the manner in
which it is to be carried into effect, I would have it understood that I do
not claim the manufacture of albums from different sheets of card pasted

page_text: together, but what I claim is, the manufacture of photographic albums in
which the cartes or portraits are surrounded by a bevil edged border having
the appearance of a frame, and ornamented in any suitable manner such
as is above described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Pierre Louis Forestier, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twenty-first day of February, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three.
Witness,
H. BONNEVILLE.
P. L. FORESTIER. (L.B.).