AN IMPROVEMENT IN * POST CARDS' OR TABLETS FOR THE TRANSMISSION OF MESSAGES BY POST OR OTHERWISE
Year: 1871

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Charles Akin at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 25th
February 1871.
I, CHARLES AKIN, of Pesth, in Hungary, Doctor in Philosophy and
Member of the Hungary Academy of Sciences, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "AN IMPROVEMENT IN * POST CARDS' OR
TABLETS FOR THE TRANSMISSION OF MESSAGES BY POST OR OTHERWISE," to be as
follows:-
My Invention relates to an improvement in what are known as "post
cards" or tablets intended to bear written or other messages or com-
munications, the object of my Invention being to ensure the same
secrecy of the communication as is obtained by means of an ordinary
envelope, whilst dispensing with the use of note paper, and at the same
time to combine the advantages afforded by the ordinary post card, viz.,
general handiness or convenience, and the greater facility with which
such "cards" may be sorted and distributed for postal purposes.
66
d
According to my Invention I prefer to make what I designate a
postal tablet," in the form of an ordinary "post card," that is to say,

page_text: rectangular. For general use this rectangle may be about double the
area of a post card, and may resemble two such cards joined together
at one of their longer edges, the supposed line of junction being marked
tablet," so
by a row of small perforations extending quite across the “
as to permit of the one half being easily folded over or doubled down
on the other, or instead of perforations the tablet may be creased in
the same line by any suitable means with the same object. I provide
a marginal line of perforations extending entirely around the "tablet"
or card near the edges, so as to separate an inner quadrilateral (or that
part of the tablet destined to receive the message or communication) :
from a narrow rim or margin. These perforations must be made
sufficiently near together to permit of the margin being easily detached
from the card or "tablet," as herein-after described. One side of the
"tablet" when in its open or extended form is intended to bear the
communication, after receiving which the tablet is folded at the central
perforated or creased line before mentioned, the one half of the tablet
is thus doubled down upon the other, the side bearing the inscription
being inwards. The tablet is secured in this form by causing the said
inner surfaces to adhere together at the edges, for which purpose the
margin of the one half is "gummed" on that side, either entirely around
it or at intervals only. Instead of gumming the margin of one half
only of the tablet, as above mentioned, I may gum around the edges
of both halves in a similar manner to afford better security. One of the
two exterior surfaces of the folded tablet is utilized for the reception of
the superscription and postage labels, while the other may bear an
ornamental or useful device or impression, such as a crest, monogram,
address or business card, or each of these exterior surfaces may bear
printed or impressed stamps, like ordinary post cards, to cover the cost
of postage when the tablet is used for certain purposes, or the tablet
might in this case be torn in two at the central line and used as two
ordinary post cards. To open tho "tablet" the recipient tears off the
adhering edges or margin at the line of perforations. By commencing
at the folded edge the whole of the margin may be detached (in double
which
thickness) at one effort without damaging the tablet itself,
now be opened out to exhibit the inscription contained. When a line
of perforations is used to indicate where the "tablet" is to be folded
they should be made further apart than those forming the marginal
line, and neither should be so closely perforated as to weaken tliat part
of the card too much or render it liable to be accidentally divided. To
may

page_text: facilitate the opening of the tablet a cord or thread may be engaged
in the line of perforations in such manner that by pulling the thread
the margin can be severed from the three sides of one half of the tablet,
which may then be opened out to display the contents, the said portion
of the margin remaining attached to the margin of the other half of the
tablet.
This improved tablet may also be conveniently used as a form for
telegraphic messages or as a card of invitation, in which case the per-
forations may be arranged according to any suitable ornamental design,
instead of in straight lines.