IMPROVEMENTS IN INDEXING BOOKS AND IN THE BINDING OF THE SAME
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Morgan-Brown, of the Firm of Brandon and
Morgan-Brown, Engineers and Patent Agents, of 38, Southampton Buildings,
London, and 13, Rue Gaillon, Paris, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
INDEXING BOOKS AND IN THE BINDING OF THE SAME." A communication
from abroad by Luciano Matute, of Madrid, Spain.
Sealed the 4th July 1876, and dated the 6th January 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Morgan-Brown at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 6th January 1876.
"
WILLIAM MORGAN-BROWN, of the Firm of Brandon and Morgan-Brown, Engineers
and Patent Agents, of 38, Southampton Buildings, London, and 13, Rue Gaillon,
Paris. IMPROVEMENTS IN INDEXING BOOKS AND IN THE BINDING OF THE SAME."
The object of this Invention is to facilitate researches in books in general, and
more especially in dictionaries, lexicons, and other similar works; for this purpose
the index is printed or otherwise marked on the extreme edge of the face of the
leaves composing the book in such a manner that when not in use such index is
not visible, whilst simply by extending or spreaking out the leaves it becomes
apparent for the purpose above mentioned.
In order to facilitate this extension or spreading of the leaves the outer boards
of the binding should be of a flexible nature, and for this purpose such boards are
formed preferably of a series of vertically placed strips of wood or other appropriate
material united to a cloth by glue or otherwise.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Morgan-Brown in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
5th July 1876.
WILLIAM MORGAN-BROWN, of the Firm of Brandon and Morgan-Brown, Engineers
and Patent Agents, of 38, Southampton Buildings, London, and 13, Rue Gaillon,
Paris. "IMPROVEMENTS IN INDEXING BOOKS AND IN THE BINDING OF THE SAME.'
(A communication to me from abroad by Luciano Matute, of Madrid, Spain).
"
For this purpose of this Invention, with respect to the indexing of books, I
in the first place compose a table of the initials of the first word of pages 2 and 3,
ID 71

page_text: 4 and 5, 6 and 7, etc. I form these initials into perpendicular columns, equivalent
to the height of the pages, the numbers of such columns depending on the number
of pages composing the work; such columns are not exactly perpendicular because
since each successive initials of which they are composed have reference to
successive pages, they must naturally incline from left to right to a greater or less
extent for reasons stated below. When such table is completed I compose it in
type, and having spread out the leaves of the work to the extent of, say, three times
the surface or thickness they present when the work is closed, I print the same on
the margin of the leaves thus exposed, and note on the edges thereof in the second
place. I then mark also on the margin each page of uneven numbers 3, 5, 7, etc.,
a bar or mark, preferably in color such as red, opposite each initial of each colum,
and for further facilitating the object of the Invention I place above each column
composed as above the capital letter of the initials of the first word contained
therein. With respect to the binding of such volumes with the view of facilitating
the extension or spreading of the leaves I prefer forming the outer boards of a
flexible nature, and for this purpose I prefer making such boards of a series of
vertically placed strips of wood, or other appropriate material, united to a cloth by
glue or otherwise.
And in order that the Invention be clearly understood and easily put inte
practical operation, I will describe the same in detail conjointly with the two
Figures of the accompanying Sheet of Drawings, of which Figure Ĭ is a perspective
view of a volume indexed and bound according to the Invention, and spread out or
extended for the purposes set forth, and Figure 2 also a perspective view of a part
of the same volume, the leaves thereof being extended beyond actual requirement
in order to indicate more clearly the application of the improvements.
In Figure 1 the first column of the left hand contains 39 initials or lines, having
reference to 39 double pages-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7, etc., and to the left of each line is
placed a black mark printed on the margin of the odd numbers of such pages
2, 3—4, 5—6, 7, etc., 6 similar entire columns and a seventh partial column
complete an abridged enumeration of the first word in each double set of pages it
contains, each enumeration being flanked on the left with a marginal mark as
above stated, and above each of these 8 columns I place the capital letter of the first
word contained in each column.
Figure 2 has been added to the Drawing for the purpose of showing more clearly
the printing or indexing on the margins of the pages and the marks thereto
referring, and to this effect the spreading of the leaves has been extended beyond
what is actually required for the purposes of the Invention.
Example: If the word sought for in this work (a Spanish dictionary) is
Austria, following down the first column to AUge, and noting that the next
enumeration is AVar, it will therefore be evident that such word sought is
contained in the first two pages indexed by AUge, and consequently on opening
the pages at the corresponding marginal mark it will be found thereon; if the word
sought for is Belgica, follow down to BEati, the next mention being Blbu, the
said word will be contained in the two pages indexed by such first annotation, and
found by opening the volume at the corresponding marginal mark. In order to
facilitate the indexing and the reading thereof, when two or more of these double
pages commence with similar initials the first only are printed, a blank space being
left for the following, thereby indicating that such first initials are also applicable
to such following pages.
Since each column of necessity follows an angular direction in order to furnish
space or material for receiving the indication of the last column the volume must be
supplemented by a sufficient number of blank leaves, or preferably such indications
can be printed either on a strip of blank paper attached to the last leaf, turned
within when the volume is not used and turned out when the leaves are spread out,
or such indication may be printed on the inner face of the binding board of the
volume opposite the respective and last column of colored marks on the margin of
the leaves.

page_text: With reference to the binding of volumes indexed as above it is not necessary
that such binding should differ from such actually, but I have found that in
practice flexible bindings are well adapted to the purpose of this Invention, and I
prefer for that purpose making the boards of vertical strips of wood, or other
appropriate material, united by glue or otherwise to an inner canvas or to an outer
as well as to an inner canvas.
Having thus explained the nature of my improvements, as well as the best
means that I am acquainted with for carrying the same into practical operation,
I claim,-
Firstly. The method above described of indexing books, such as dictionaries,
lexicons, and others, on the margin of such leaves and not on their edges.
Secondly. In conjunction with the above method of indexing books, the marginal
marks for the purpose of more clearly indicating exactly the page or pages on
which the words sought for will be found.
Thirdly. The flexible binding, above described and illustrated in the accom-
panying Drawing, in conjunction with the above-mentioned items of these
improvements.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Morgan-Brown, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Fifth day of July, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-six.
WILLIAM MORGAN-BROWN. (L.S.)

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