IMPROVEMENTS IN ENVELOPES
Year: 1864

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Daniel Bond Grove, of Birmingham, in the County
of Warwick, Manager, and William Carron, of Birmingham aforesaid,
Machinist, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN ENVELOPES."
Sealed the 10th January 1865, and dated the 15th July 1864.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Daniel Bond Grove and
William Carron at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with
their Petition, on the 15th July 1864.
We, DANIEL BOND GROVE, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick,
Manager, and WILLIAM CARRON, of Birmingham aforesaid, Machinist, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
ENVELOPES," to be as follows:-
Our improvements consist, firstly, in making envelopes with attached
seals, plain or ornamental, for the purpose of giving great security in
sealing or fastening the said envelopes. In carrying into effect this part of.
our Invention, we cut, punch, or stamp out seals from paper, woven fabrics,
skin, or other suitable material, the said seals being of any form or size, and,
either plain or ornamented. We make the seals adhesive by gum, glue,
paste, or other fitting adhesive material. We attach a portion, generally about.
one-half, of the under surface of the seal by its adhesive coating, or by fresh
adhesive matter, including varnish or waterproof cement if desired, to the lip or
flap of the envelope, leaving the remaining portion to project over or beyond
the edge of the lip or flap ready to be fastened down to the body of the

page_text: envelope by damping or wetting in the usual way when the envelope has to be
closed or sealed. By preference we render the seals waterproof by varnish or
other means before cutting them out. We gum the lip or flap of the envelope
in the ordinary way, or leave it ungummed, taking care that when the lip or
flap is gummed, the spread of the gum is kept narrow enough to prevent it
sticking to the enclosure.
Our improvements consist, secondly, in making envelopes with elongated
sealing flaps or lips terminating in a rectangular or other angular form. In
carrying into effect this part of our Invention we make an envelope with the
sealing flap or lip lengthened, and give to it a rectangular or other angular
termination, and in this way obtain a larger and therefore a better sealing or
holding surface than that of ordinary envelopes.
Our improvements consist, thirdly, in making reversible envelopes, so that
they can be used for a second enclosure. To effect this we fold the envelope
in the usual way, but do not gum it or fasten it down in any part previously
to its being used. We attach two gummed or adhesive seals, one to the out-
side of the ordinary sealing flap or lip, and projecting over or beyond its edge,
and the other, of a larger size, to the inside of the opposite flap or lip, and
similarly projecting over or beyond its edge. The envelope when used is
fastened down and sealed by the first described seal. In opening the envelope
we cut round the two ends and the top side of the seal; all the flaps, that is,
both the side and the end flaps of the envelope are thus set free to be turned
back and folded over in exactly the opposite direction to the first folding of
them, and in this way again forming an envelope which is to be fasteued down
and sealed, when used, by the second seal. The edges of the seals sufficiently
show the line which should be followed in cutting open the envelope, but as
a further guide, and also to allow of the envelope being opened without
cutting, the envelope may be pierced or perforated round the two ends and the
upper side of the seal.
Our improvements consist, fourthly, in providing envelopes with a piece
of paper attached to the inside to be always present and ready for writing on.
The said piece of paper turns on a thread or other kind of pivot at one of its
upper corners, or is held loosely by a thread at its bottom edge to the insidé
of the envelope. The paper may be turned or drawn out to be written.on,
and replaced with great facility, and is secure against being lost or mislaid.
Our improvements consist, fifthly, in making blanks for envelopes, to be open
at the ends when folded or fastened, for books, papers, patterns, or any article
intended to be transmitted by "book post." In carrying this part of our
Invention into effect, we form a wrapper of paper, woven fabric, or other

page_text: suitable material, with one edge prepared with gum or some adhesive sub-
stance, to be brought round the article or articles to be enclosed, and to be
fastened down to the opposite side of the wrapper, leaving the two ends open. We
attach an elastic band or bands, or one or more strings tightened or slackened
by a running noose fastened inside or outside of the direction side, which bands
or strings are easily brought over or round to the sealing side so as to keep
the enclosure from falling out, and can readily be turned back to allow of
inspection of the contents of the envelope by post office officials. To
accommodate the length of the envelope to the length of an enclosure when
only slight accommodation is required, a portion of the ends may be turned
down, or a portion ready turned down may be turned back so as to shorten or
lengthen the envelope at pleasure within certain limits; beyond such limits
different sizes of envelopes must be used.
Our improvements consist, sixthly, in making envelopes to be used as direc-
tion labels. In carring into effect this part of our Invention, we take a
piece of paper or woven fabric, waterproof or not, and fold down a portion of
the sides and ends so as to make an envelope to wholly or partially cover
address cards, notes, invoices, advertisements, or other matters. We fasten
down with glue or other cement one end on to the two sides, and leave the
other end open, prepared with gum or other adhesive substance, to be fastened
down when used. We perforate the closed end to receive, with or without an
eyelet, a string by which to fasten the envelope to packages or articles. Or
we attach a string in any other way ready for use, and thus form an envelope
to be used as a direction label. Or we make an envelope, the direction side
of which is covered either inside or outside with cloth or other suitable
material to prevent the envelope tearing, and render it strong enough to be
safely affixed to packages or articles as a direction label.
Our improvements consist, seventhly, in covering the back of the gum
receiving parts of envelopes with a waterproof material before the envelopes
are folded or made, for the purpose of giving greater security by preventing
the wetting of the gum. This waterproofing we effect by wholly or partially
covering the said parts of the envelopes with waterproof ink, paint, or varnish,
and thus protect the said envelope from being improperly opened. We effect
the waterproofing by printing, stencilling, or painting before the paper is
folded; this plan being preferable to that of waterproofing the parts after the
envelopes are made.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said David Bond Grove and William Carron in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 13th January 1865.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, DANIEL
BOND GROVE, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Manager, and.
WILLIAM CARRON, of Birmingham aforesaid, Machinist, send greeting..
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fifteenth day of July, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four, in the twenty-eighth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
us, the said Daniel Bond Grove and William Carron, Her special licence
that we, the said Daniel Bond Grove and William Carron, our executors,
administrators, and assigns, or such others as we, the said Daniel Bond
Grove and William Carron, our executors, administrators, and assigns,
should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all
times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully
might make, 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 ENVELOPES," upon the condition (amongst others) that
we, the said Daniel Bond Grove and William Carron, our executors or
administrators, by an instrument in writing under our or their hands and
seals, or under the hand and seal of one of us or them, 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 and immediately after
the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that we, the said Daniel Bond Grove and William
Carron, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement thereof, that is to say :-
Our improvements consist, firstly, in making envelopes with attached seals,
plain or ornamental, for the purpose of giving great security in sealing or
fastening the said envelopes. In carrying into effect this part of our Invention,
we cut, punch, or stamp out seals from paper, woven fabrics, skin, or other
suitable material, the said seals being of any form or size, and either plain or
ornamental. We make the seals adhesive by gum, glue, paste, or other
fitting adhesive material. We attach a portion, generally about one-half, of
the under surface of the seal by its adhesive coating damped or wetted, or by

page_text: fresh adhesive matter, including varnish or waterproof cement if desired, to the
lip or flap of the envelope, leaving the remaining portion to project over or
beyond the edge of the lip or flap ready to be fastened down to the body of
the envelope by damping or wetting in the usual way when the envelope has
to be closed or sealed. The seals may be attached by hand or by any suitable
machinery. By preference we render the seals waterproof by varnish or other
means, and do this before cutting them out.
Our improvements consist, secondly, in making reversible envelopes, so that
they can be used for a second enclosure. To effect this we fold the envelope
in the usual way, but we do not gum or fasten it down in any part previously
to its being used. We attach two gummed or adhesive seals, one to the out-
side of the ordinary sealing flap or lip, and projecting over or beyond its edge,
and the other, of a larger size, to the inside of the opposite flap or lip, and
similarly projecting over or beyond its edge. The envelope when used is
fastened down and sealed by the first described seal. In opening the envelope
we cut round the two ends and the top side of the seal; all the flaps, that
is, both the side and the end flaps of the envelope are thus set free, to be
turned back and folded over in exactly the opposite direction to the first
folding of them, and in this way again forming an envelope which is to be
fastened down and sealed, when used, by the second seal. The edges of the
seals sufficiently shew the line which should be followed in cutting open.the
envelope, but as a further guide, and also to allow of the envelope being
opened without cutting, the envelope may be pierced or perforated round the.
two ends and the upper side of the seal.
Our improvements consist, thirdly, in providing envelopes with a piece of
paper attached to the inside to be always present and ready for writing on.
The said piece of paper turns on a thread or other kind of pivot at one of the
upper corners of the envelope, or is held loosely by a thread at its bottom edge
to the inside at the bottom of the envelope. The paper may be turned or
drawn out to be written on, and replaced with great facility, and is secure
against being lost or mislaid.
Our improvements consist, fourthly, in making blanks for envelopes, to be
open at the ends when folded or fastened, for books, papers, patterns, or other
articles intended to be transmitted by "book post." In carrying this part of
our Invention into effect, we form a wrapper of paper, woven fabric, or other
suitable material, with one edge prepared with gum or some adhesive substance,
to be brought round the article or articles to be enclosed, and to be fastened
down to the opposite side of the wrapper, leaving the two ends open. We
attach an elastic band or bands, or one or more strings tightened or slackened.

page_text: by a running noose fastened inside or outside of the direction side, which
bands or strings are easily brought over or round to the sealing side so as to
keep the enclosure from falling out, and can readily be turned back to allow
of inspection of the contents of the envelope by post office officials. To
accommodate the length of the envelope to the length of an enclosure when
only slight accommodation is required, a portion of the ends may be turned
back so as to shorten or lengthen the envelope at pleasure within certain
limits; beyond such limits different sized envelopes must be used.
Our improvements consist, fifthly, in making envelopes to be used as
direction labels. In carrying into effect this part of our Invention, we take a
piece of paper or woven fabric, waterproof or not, and fold down a portion of
the sides and ends so as to make an envelope to partially cover address cards
notes, advertisements, or other matters desired to be read. We fold over the
two sides, and then fasten down with glue or other cement one end on to the
same, and leave the other end open, prepared with gum or other adhesive
substance, to be fastened down when used. We perforate the closed end to
receive, with or without an eyelet, a string by which to fasten the envelope to
packages or articles. Or we attach a string in any way ready for use, and
thus form an envelope to be used as a direction label. Or we make an
envelope, the direction side of which is covered either inside or outside with
cloth or other suitable material to prevent the envelope tearing, and to render
it strong enough to be safely affixed to packages or articles as a direction
label.
Having explained the nature of our Invention, we will proceed to describe,
with reference to the accompanying Drawing, the manner in which the same
is to be performed.
Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 illustrate the first part of our Invention.
Figures 1 and 2 represent seals made according to our Invention to be
attached to envelopes; Figure 3 represents the front or direction side of an
open envelope with one of our seals attached; and Figure 4 represents the back
of the same; Figure 5 represents the back of the closed envelope, showing the
manner in which the seal is made to fasten the envelope.
The seal is marked a in the several Figures. We have represented in the
Drawing rectangular and lozenge shaped seals as the simplest forms of our
Invention, but any outline may be given to the seals, and they may be
ornamented by printing, embossing, or otherwise. The under side of the seal a
is coated with gum, and the seal is attached to the lip of the envelope either
by wetting the gummed side of the seal or by using fresh adhesive material
and pressing the seal into contact with the lip of the envelope. The seals

page_text: may be readily attached to the lips of the envelopes by hand or machinery,
but we do not limit ourselves to any particular method of attaching the seals
to the lips of the envelopes.
Figure 6 represents an open reversible envelope constructed according to
our Invention, the said reversible envelope being capable of being used twice.
a, b, are the two seals of the envelope, the seal 6 being larger than the seal a!
The two seals a, b, are attached to opposite sides of the lips c, d, of the
envelope, that is, in the envelope, as represented, the gummed side of the
seal a is uppermost, and the lip c secured upon it, while the seal 6 has the
gummed side downwards, and the lip d is secured to the under or gummed
side of the said seal b. In using the envelope for the first time the flap
carrying the seal b is folded upon the middle e; then the side flaps f, 9, are
folded over, and, lastly, the flap carrying the seal a, by which said seal a the
envelope is closed. In using the envelope a second time the flap which
carried the seal a, and from which the said seal a has been cut away in
opening the envelope after the first time of use, is folded upon the central
part e; the said flaps f, g, are next folded, and, lastly, the flap carrying the
seal b, the several foldings being made in a way the reverse of that in which
the first foldings were made, so as to make that which was the inside of the
envelope in its first use the outside in the second use. The envelope the
second time of using is closed by the seal b. The seal 6 is made larger than
the seal a in order to cover the parts properly over which it is folded to seal
the envelope. In sealing with the seal a only the gum of the seal should be
made wet, care being taken to avoid wetting the lip c of the envelope..
Figures 7 and 8 illustrate the third part of our Invention. Figure 7
shows an open envelope with a memorandum paper h attached by a thread i
to the inside of the envelope, as represented, the said memorandum paper h
being capable of being turned into or out of the envelope upon the thread i as
a centre. Figure 8 shows a memorandum paper k attached loosely to the
envelope by means of a long thread 7, the said thread being connected inside
to the envelope at m.
Figures 9 and 10 illustrate the fourth part of our Invention. Figure 9
represents a book-post envelope made according to our Invention, * and
Figure 10 represents the same with a book or packet enclosed. The envelope
consists of a piece of paper or other fabric of a rectangular or other shape
gummed on the under side of one of its edges; n is a thread fixed down by
the strip of paper o pasted to the envelope, the said thread n being between
the strip o and the envelope. The ends of the-thread n are connected by a

page_text: running noose or knot represented at p in Figure 10. In using the envelope
its edges are folded down upon the book or package, and secured by the
gummed edge, the string n is turned into the position represented in Figure 10,
and tightened upon the enclosure by means of the running noose p. Instead
of the string n, an elastic india-rubber band may be employed sufficiently small
to require expanding for the introduction of the package. After the intro
duction of the package into the envelope the elastic band contracts upon the
package and secures it. The novelty in this envelope consists in the string or
elastic band n being attached ready for use.
Figures 11 and 12 illustrate the fifth part of our Invention, Figure 11
representing the blank from which we make a label envelope, and Figure 12
representing the envelope completed. In making the envelope Figure 12
from the blank Figure 11 the two sides q, r, are first folded upon the middle
part, and afterwards the end t is folded upon the sides q, r, and fixed by gum.
The end s is folded and gummed, but not fixed down. Any enclosure, such as
an address card, advertisement, or other matter, may be inserted in the
envelope at the end 8, and the said end folded down and fastened by its
gummed surface. By means of the string u passing through the hole v (which
may be eyeletted) and tied at w, the envelope may be attached to any
package. The address to which the package is to be forwarded is written
on the outside of the envelope, that is, on that side which in Figure 12 is
undermost.
"
.
Having thus described the nature of our Invention, and the manner in
which the same is to be performed, we wish it to be understood that we do not
limit ourselves to the precise details herein described and illustrated in the
Drawing, as the same may be varied without departing from the nature of our
Invention; but we claim as our Invention,―
Firstly, envelopes with seals attached to the sealing lips or flaps, the said
seals projecting over or beyond the edge of the lip or flap ready to fasten down
the same and close or seal the envelope, as herein-before described and
illustrated in Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 of the accompanying Drawing.
Secondly, envelopes with two seals, the said envelopes being capable of being
reversed and used a second time, as herein-before described and illustrated in
Figure 6 of the accompanying Drawing.
Thirdly, envelopes with an attached memorandum or short note paper, as
herein-before described and illustrated in Figures 7 and 8 of the accompanying
Drawing.
Fourthly, book-post envelopes with one or more attached elastic bands or

page_text: strings to secure the enclosure from falling out and allow of easy inspection by
post-office officials, as herein-before described and illustrated in Figures 9 and
10 of the accompanying Drawing.
Lastly, envelopes to be used as direction labels, and to contain an exposed
enclosure when required, as herein-before described and illustrated in Figures
11 and 12 of the accompanying Drawing.
In witness whereof, we, the said Daniel Bond Grove and William Carron,
have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Ninth day of January, in
the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-five.
Witness,
GEORGE SHAW.
DANIEL BOND GROVE. (LS.)
WILLIAM CARRON.
(L.S.)