IMPROVED MEANS FOR PREVENTING ALTERATIONS OF VALUE IN CHEQUES, TICKETS, BILLS, NOTES, AND DOCUMENTS OF LIKE CHARACTER
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Pottin, of Paris, 79, Rue Turbigo, Gentleman, for
the Invention of "IMPROVED MEANS FOR PREVENTING ALTERATIONS OF
VALUE IN CHEQUES, TICKETS, BILLS, NOTES, AND DOCUMENTS OF LIKE
CHARACTER.”
Sealed the 5th February 1878, and dated the 9th August 1877.
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Pottin at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 9th August 1877.
IMPROVED MEANS FOR
HENRY POTTIN, of Paris, 79, Rue Turbigo, Gentleman.
PREVENTING ALTERATIONS OF VALUE IN CHEQUES, TICKETS, BILLS, NOTES, AND
DOCUMENTS OF LIKE CHARACTER."
My Invention relates to means of preventing alterations of value in cheques,
tickets, bills, notes, and documents of like character expressing money value. For
this purpose in addition to usual contents of the document I provide a controlling
arrangement, such as prevents alteration of value or serves to detect any alteration
made therein. Such controlling arrangement is susceptible of various forms founded
on the same leading principle which I will explain. I print on the margin or other
convenient part of the document columns or rows of numerals, each column or row
containing the numerals 0 to 9 in order, and being headed respectively as units, tens,
thousands, and so on. Of these numerals I punch out those which express the value
or punch out small holes facing these numerals, and I also punch out a hole at the
heading of the denomination next above that of the highest digit in the number.
expressing the value. For example, if the document were a cheque or note for £3065,
I should punch out the digit 3 of the thousands, 0 of the hundreds, 6 of the tens,
and 5 of the units, or I should punch a small hole at each of those digits, and I
should also punch a hole at the heading of the next column or row expressing ten
thousands, thereby indicating that the highest denomination of the sum represented
is to be found among the thousands.

page_text: As an unalterable record of the amount the counterfoil may be made with corre-
sponding rows or columns, and this being folded under or over the slip before it is
torn off, is punched at the same time with the slip itself.
In some cases it suffices for the counterfoil to be made with successive rows of
holes for tearing off the slip, a row for each of the denominations, units, tens, &c.,
and the slip being torn off along the line corresponding to the highest denomination
the counterfoil shews what that is. For example, in the case above mentioned for
a value of £3065, the slip would be torn off along the line marked thousands, and
the counterfoil would then shew that the highest denomination marked in the slip
was among the thousands.
By punching out as above described digits or holes at digits in rows or columns
marked with the successive denominations, and marking in like manner the
denomination next above that expressed in the amount, it is rendered impossible to
vary that amount because a punched hole cannot be obliterated, and any additional
hole would render the document unmeaning.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Henry Pottin in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 8th February
1878.
HENRY POTTIN, of Paris, 79, Rue Turbigo, Gentleman. "IMPROVED MEANS FOR
PREVENTING ALTERATIONS OF VALUE IN CHECKS, TALLIES, BILLS, NOTES, AND
DOCUMENTS OF LIKE CHARACTER."
My Invention relates to means of preventing alterations of value in cheques,
tickets, bills, notes, and documents of like character expressing money value. For
this purpose, in addition to the usual contents of the document or in part substitution
for such contents, I provide a controlling arrangement such as prevents alteration of
value, or serves to detect any alteration made therein. Such controlling arrange-
ment is susceptible of various forms founded on the same leading principle which I
will expain. I print on the margin or other convenient part of the document
columns or rows of numerals, each column or row containing the numerals 0 to 9
in order, and being headed respectively as units, tens, hundreds, thousands, and so
on. Of these numerals I punch out those which express the value, or I punch out
small holes facing or opposite to these numerals, and I also punch out a hole at the
heading of the denomination next above that of the highest digit in the number
expressing the value. For example if the document were a cheque or note for £ 3065,
I should punch out the digit 3 of the thousands, 0 of the hundreds, 6 of the tens,
and 5 of the units, or I should punch a small hole at each of these digits, and I
should also punch a hole at the heading of the next column or row expressing ten
thousands, thereby indicating that the highest denomination of the sum represented
is to be found among the thousands.
As an unalterable record of the amount, the counterfoil may be made with corre-
sponding rows or columns, and punched at the same time with the slip itself.
By punching out, as above described, digits or holes at digits, in rows or columns
marked with the successive denominations, and marking in like manner the denomi-

page_text: nations next above that expressed in the amount, it is rendered impossible to vary
that amount because a punched hole cannot be obliterated, and any additional hole
would render the document unmeaning.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Fig. 1 shews one form of cheque according to my Invention which is supposed to
be drawn for £ 364. At the lower margin are groups of digits representing
respectively units, tens, hundreds, thousands, and so on, with a circular mark under
each digit, and also a mark under the name of each denomination. The cheque
being understood to represent £364, the marks under the 3 of the hundreds, the 6
of the tens, and the 4 of the units are punched out, also the mark at the denomination
of the thousands is punched out to indicate that the amount represented by the
cheque is of a less denomination than thousands.
In the form of a cheque which is supposed to be drawn for £ 236, shewn in Fig. 2,
the digits themselves are punched out, namely, the 2 of the hundreds, the 3 of the
tens, and the 6 of the units, also a hole is punched through the word thousands to
show that the amount is under that denomination.
Figs. 3 and 4 shew forms of cheques according to my Invention in which the
groups of digits are printed in the body of the cheques, so as when punched as
described to take the place of the written value usually inserted at that place; Fig. 3
shews the same arrangement of digits and circular marks as shewn at Fig. 1, .so
that instead of writing the words "three hundred and sixty-four pounds" the marks
under the three of the hundreds, the six of the tens, and the four of the units are
punched out, as is also the mark under the word "thousands"; Fig. 4 shews the
same arrangement of digits without the marks, as shewn in Fig. 2, the value being
indicated by punching in precisely the same manner as described with reference to
that Figure.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed, I claim, preventing alteration of value in cheques, tickets,
bills, notes, and documents of like character, by marking the document with numerals
of successive denominations, and punching holes at or near the numerals, expressing
the amount which the document represents and the limiting denomination thereof,
substantially as herein described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Pottin, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Seventh day of February, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
HENRY POTTIN. (LS.)