Improvements in Books for Stamps.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd May, 1894-Accepted, 2nd June, 1894
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Books for Stamps.
I, ARTHUR FOSTER PURDY, of Lawrence in the County of Santa Clara, in
the State of California, one of the United States of America, Postmaster, 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 :-
This invention relates to an improved form of book for the preservation of.
postage stamps, and it has for its object to provide a device of this class which
shall possess superior advantages in point of simplicity of construction, as well as
inexpensiveness and general efficiency.
Heretofore no successful simple means have been invented for the proper
preservation of postage stamps in the sheet form; therefore, to enable postmasters
and others to keep such stamps dry, and to prevent them from curling and
adhering together, and at the same time to make it possible to refer readily
to the stamps of the required denomination, is the prime object of my invention.
Further novelties resides in the peculiarities of construction and the combinations,
arrangements and adaptation of parts, all as more fully hereinafter described, shown
in the drawings and then particularly pointed out in the claims.
It will be seen from the accompanying drawings and following description that
the salesman can readily compute by reference to the book, the number of stamps
removed, and therefore the exact amount of sales.
In the accompanying drawings, in which similar letters of reference designate
corresponding parts;-
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the book in a partly open position.
Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section, and
Fig. 3 is a plan view of the book with the cover removed.
Reference being had to the above figures, A A' represent the cover of the book,
which is made of card-board or other suitable light material. Situated between
the faces A and A' are the index sheets B B', made preferably of card-board, but
of a thinner quality than that composing the cover, the number of sheets
corresponding to the number of different denominations of stamps. Between the
cover A and the first index sheet B, are secured to the book by means of metal
staple or other suitable means, a number of thin sheets C preferably of oiled paper
or paper containing a small amount of oil, the blank margins D of the stamp
sheet E being fastened to the said sheet C. On the upper surface of each oiled
sheet C, a sheet of stamps is secured, as above, therefore each of the latter sheets
is separated from, and prevented from adhering to the adjacent one by means
of the oiled sheet, the oil in the latter preventing the latter from adhering to it.
The object of the indexed sheets B B is to separate the stamps of different
denominations and to enable the postmaster to refer readily to the particular
stamps which he desires to remove.
It is my intention to manufacture the book of various sizes with or without the
recording means hereinafter described, thus making the book applicable for the use
of merchants or other men of business or post offices. In order to enable the
salesman to compute readily the amount of sales, I have the series of numerals F, F¹
and F placed on the margins of the index sheet B, F-F" being an increasing
arithmetical series, the common difference of which is the denomination of the
stamp, and the series F' having a common difference equal to the denomination
of stamp multiplied by the number of stamps in a horizontal row; therefore, it
will be readily seen that if the number of stamps sold be less than one horizontal

page_text: row,
the amount of sales is ascertained by reference to the series of numerals F
or F, while if one or more horizontal rows be removed, the salesman refers to
the vertical series of numerals F¹.
I do not desire to confine my invention to any particular number of oiled or
index sheets composing the book, as the number of the former is regulated by the
number of stamps of each denomination required, while the latter is regulated by
the number of denominations of stamps. For the sake of simplicity, I have
represented in the drawings a book capable of holding merely two denominations
of stamps.
By reference to Fig. 3, it will be seen that I have constructed the oiled sheets C
smaller than the index sheet B, in order that the series of numerals F, F1 and F
may be visible at the margin of the sheet C, but in case the numerals are omitted,
the sheets may then be made of the same size.
I am aware that changes in the size, location and proportion of the parts of
the invention berein shown and described can be made without departing from the
spirit or sacrificing the advantages thereof, and I therefore reserve the right
to make such changes and alterations as fairly fall within the scope of my
invention.
.
It will be readily seen from the foregoing description that I have provided a
very simple effective, and inexpensive device, by the use of which postage stamps,
in the sheet form, may be prevented from curling and adhering together in warm
and moist weather, and from being accidentally detached from the sheet, the
invention further affording a simple means for preserving an exact record of the
number of stamps removed and the stock on hand.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is ;-
1. In a book for the preservation of postage stamps, the combination of the
indexed sheets B B' with the oiled sheets C said index sheets being made
of a material heavier than said oiled sheets substantially as and for the purpose
set forth.
2. In a book for the preservation of postage stamps the combination of the
indexed sheets B B' with the oiled sheets C said index sheets having the series
of numerals F F F" printed on their margins, substantially as and for the purpose
set forth.
3. In a book for the preservation of postage stamps the combination of a
series of indexed sheets B B₁ with the oiled sheets C said oiled sheets being
smaller than said indexed sheets substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
4. In a book for the preservation of postage stamps the combination of the
indexed sheets B B' with the oiled sheets C said indexed sheets bearing the series
of numerals F F and F said oiled sheets being smaller than said indexed
sheets and secured to said indexed sheets substantially as and for the purpose
set forth.
5. In a book for the preservation of postage stamps the combination of the
indexed sheets B B with the oiled sheets C said indexed sheets being made of a
material heavier than said oiled sheets said oiled sheets being secured to said
indexed sheets, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
Dated this 2nd day of May 1894.
W. P. THOMPSON & BOULT,
Agents for the Applicant.