Improvements in Post-cards, Letter-cards, or like Means of Correspondence or Advertisement.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Dec., 1897
Complete Specification Left, 19th Sept., 1898-Accepted, 22nd Oct., 1898
Improvements in Post-cards, Letter-cards, or like Means of
Correspondence or Advertisement.
I, GAUTIER DE STE CROIX, Managing Director of the Acme Insurance Com-
pany Limited, of Mowbray House, Norfolk Street, in the County of London,
W.C., do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to the manufacture of an improved form of post-card,
letter card, or like means of correspondence or advertisement and is designed
to enable the sender to secure the transmission through the post of a business
or other circular, price current, or other printed or like matter in a handy form,
accompanied by one or more reply post-cards, the latter being securely attached
during the process of transmission through the post, but which will become
entirely separated by the simple act of opening the card on its receipt by the
addressee, and to obtain the delivery by post of such at the lowest postal rate
accepted by the post office for the delivery of post cards, printed circulars in open
envelopes, or similar matter, which rate under existing regulations is one half-
penny.
A further object is to supply a wrapper that can be used as an open envelope
to enclose for transmission through the post such printed circulars, invoices,
statements of account, and the like as are admitted at lowest rate of postage
for such articles as I have referred to in the preceding paragraph. To provide
therewith a certain space which can be utilized for printing thereon of a price
current, circular, or other matter requiring publication, and in addition thereto
to enclose therewith one, or more post-cards, which can be utilized by the
addressee to order goods or make such other communication as would be per-
mitted on an ordinary postcard, the latter being securely attached, during the
process of transmission through the post, but which shall become entirely
separated and ready for use by the simple action of opening the post card on
its receipt.
A still further object is also to supply in a handy form a closed letter card
to be used at the present penny postal rate or at such rate as may in future be
required for inland postage on which any private correspondence may be
written, and which shall include one or more reply post cards securely attached
during transmission, but which post cards shall become entirely separated and free
for use on receipt by the addressee.
For instance according to the first mentioned construction of a three fold post
card I cut from a sheet of card a blank which has approximately one third of
its length of slightly less width than the rest or other two thirds. On the other
end of the blank are formed arrow head pieces, or locking parts which are tucked
into slits provided at the junction of the card to be detached and the body of the
blank, when the post card envelope is ready for dispatch. The blank is per-
forated, or weakened on the line of junction of the detachable enclosure card
and the body. It is also similarly perforated or weakened on a line exactly
coincident on the back of the body (generally both lines of perforation being
effected at one and the same operation on the folded article) and the folds of the
body in two and the folding in of the detachable card and its hinge pieces perfects

page_text: the article ready for closing by the tucking in of the tongue pieces into slots at
the said junction line.
Or the perforations on the back of the body may be dispensed with.
The exterior of the body of the blank forming the front face can be reserved
for the address to be written or printed on.
The outside back face may be left blank or used as an ordinary open post card
for any written communication permitted on open post cards, provided the postal
regulations are not transgressed.
as usual.
The front side of the reply post card (which is securely enclosed during trans-
mission but is detached and separated by the sole act of opening the enclosure-
card at the perforated line) can be written
As this per-
forated line is the point at which the three or more thicknesses of material have
their superimposed lines of weakening, the narrow combined strip of materials
below that line can be easily torn off and in doing this the reply card is released
and all by one operation access to the interior of the body and severance of the
reply" is effected.
"
The back of the "reply card can be used in usual manner-as with post
cards as stated or it may have a printed prearranged reply.
The inside of the folded body forms a convenient medium for conveyance of
written or printed matter.
Around the reply card may be folded or enwrapped a paper of advertisement
or other use and as this part of the blank is made narrower, the added matter
lies well within the cover or body.
If the body when completely packed is to be used as a closed communication,
two lines of perforations one at each side of the folded body within the edges
thereof but clear of the enclosed card of narrower width are provided and the
edges outside these lines of perforations are gummed on their meeting faces.
In the case of two enclosed cards, as referred to, in one body and attached
thereto so as to become severed at the one tearing operation, the second one is
This
joined to the opposite end of the body to the end connecting the first one.
second card is attached to a folded strip, forming a continuation of the blank
and in the formation of the arrow heads, or tongues forming the tuck in pieces,
or locks, the bulk of this folded strip is removed, but leaving the doubled lock
pieces to hold this second reply post card attached to its body during transmission
through the post, as before."
One tear of the finished and closed articles frees both enclosed reply cards.
In place of locking by tongue pieces, the adjacent inner edges at their meeting
lines may be gummed to unite the body into an open ended envelope.
11
171
Decomb 1807
WM. BROOKES & SON,
55 and 56, Chancery Lane, London,
Agents for the Applicant.
Improvements in Post-cards, Letter-cards, or like Means of
Correspondence or Advertisement.
I, GAUTIER DE STE CROIX, Managing Director of the Acme Insurance Com-
pany Limited, of Mowbray House, Norfolk Street, in the County of London,
WV.C., 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 the manufacture of an improved form of post-card,

page_text: +
letter card, or like means of correspondence or advertisement and is designed
to enable the sender to secure the transmission through the post of a business
or other circular, price current, or other printed or like matter in a handy form
accompanied by one or more reply post cards, the latter being securely attached
during the process of transmission through the post substantially concealed from
view, but which will become entirely separated by the simple act of opening the
card on its receipt by the addressee, and to obtain the delivery by post of such
at the lowest postal rate accepted by the Post Office for the delivery of post cards,
printed circulars in open envelopes, or similar matter, which rate under existing
regulations is one half penny.
A further object is to supply a wrapper that can be used as an open envelope
to enclose for transmission through the post such printed circulars, invoices,
statements of account, and the like as are admitted at lowest rate of postage
for such articles as I have referred to in the preceding paragraph.
To provide
therewith a certain space which can be utilized for printing thereon of a price
current, circular, or other matter requiring publication, and in addition thereto
to enclose therewith one, or more post-cards, which can be utilized by the
addressee to order goods or make such other communication as would be per-
mitted on an ordinary post card, the latter being securely attached and concealed
from view, during the process of transmission through the post, but which shall
become entirely separated and ready for use by the simple action of opening the
post card on its receipt.
A still further object is also to supply in a handy form a closed letter card
to be used at the present penny postal rate, or at such rate as may in future be
required for inland postage, on which any private correspondence may be
written, and which shall include one or more reply post cards securely attached
and concealed from view during transmission, but which post cards shall become
entirely separated and free for use on receipt by the addressee.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Fig. 1 shows a post or like card or means of correspondence or advertisement
in three folds of one sheet of material designed to be used with open ends with
enclosed portion for invoice, reply, order, or the like.
Fig. 2 shows a somewhat similar article designed to be used with closed ends
and portion for invoice, reply, order or the like enclosed and concealed from view
in transit.
Fig. 3 shows a construction similar to the last but with an invoice, reply,
order or the like in duplicate one formed out of the material at each end.
Fig. 4 shows a like construction to Fig. 1 but with two invoices, reply, order
or like enclosure one at each end of the body, and Fig.-5 shews an envelope closed
and one of the arrow head locking pieces c¹ inserted in a slit a¹.
Referring to Fig. 1 which shows the first mentioned construction of a three
fold post card I cut from a sheet of card a blank which has approximately one
third say - of its length of slightly less width than the rest or other two
thirds band c-c.
On the other end of the blank are formed arrow head pieces c¹ or locking parts
which are tucked into slits a¹ provided at the weakened junction of the card a to
be detached and the body b of the blank, when the post card envelope is folded up
ready for dispatch.
The blank is perforated or weakened on the line 3 of junction of the detachable
enclosure card a and the body. It is also similarly perforated or weakened on a
line exactly coincident on the back of the body (generally both lines of per-
foration being effected at one and the same operation on the folded article) and
the folds of the body in two on line b¹ and the folding in of the detachable card
on line a³ of its hinge pieces a perfects the article ready for closing by the tucking
in of the tongue pieces c¹ into slots at the said junction line.
Or, the perforations on the back of the body may be dispensed with.

page_text: The exterior of the body of the blank forming the front face can be reserved
for the address to be written or printed on.
The outside back face may be left blank or used as an ordinary open post card
for any written communication permitted on open post cards, provided the postal
regulations are not transgressed.
The front side of the reply post card (which is securely enclosed during trans-
mission but is detached and separated by the sole act of opening the enclosure-
card at the coincident perforated lines) can be written on as usual. At this per-
forated line is the point at which the three or more thicknesses of material have
their superimposed lines of weakening, the narrow combined strip of materials
below that line can be easily torn off and in doing this the reply card is released
and all by one operation access to the interior of the body and severance of the
"reply" is effected.
The back of the "reply" card can be used in usual manner--as with post
cards as stated or it may have a printed pre-arranged reply.
The inside of the folding body forms a convenient medium for conveyance of
written or printed matter.
Around the reply card may be folded or enwrapped a paper of advertisement
or other use and as this part of the blank is made narrower, the added matter
in such case lies well within the cover, or body, but this may be varied.
Referring to Fig. 2, which shews a modification for use if the body when com-
pletely packed is to be used as a closed communication, two lines of perforations c
one at each side of the folded body be within the edges thereof but clear of the
enclosed card a of narrower width are provided and the edges or spaces c³, c4 out-
side these lines respectively of perforations are gummed on their faces c³ and
when wetted are stuck to the faces ct.
In the case of two enclosed cards, as shown by the modification Figs. 3 and 4
the latter for use with open ends and the former for use with closed ends or side
pieces where the two cards are covered in one body and attached thereto so as
to become severed at the one tearing operation, the second one is joined to the
opposite end of the body to the end connecting the first one. This second card d
is attached to a folded strip forming a second hinge piece c5 similar to the piece c¹
and forming a continuation of the blank and in the formation of the arrow heads,
or tongues c¹ forming the tuck in pieces, or locks, the bulk of this folded strip c
is removed, but leaving the doubled lock pieces 5 to hold this second reply post
card attached to its body during transmission through the post, as before.
One tear of the finished and closed articles on the perforated or weakened
line frees both enclosed reply cards.
In place of making the enclosed reply or other card ends, as a or d, or a and
of slightly narrower size they may be uniform in width with the rest of the blank
or body.
In place of locking by tongue pieces, the adjacent inner edges at their meeting
lines may be gummed to unite the body into an open ended envelope.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
The construction and use of the improved post cards, letter cards or like means
of correspondence or advertisement, as set forth and shewn by the drawings.
1000.
WM. BROOKES & SON,
55 and 56, Chancery Lane, London,
Agents for the Applicant.