IMPROVEMENTS IN CASES OR HOLDERS POR CONTAINING POSTAGE OR OTHER ADHESIVE STAMPS TO FACILITATE THEIR APPLICATION TO LETTERS OR OTHER DOCUMENTS, AND IN APPARATUS POR DAMPING SUCH LETTERS OR DOCUMENTS
Year: 1868

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Sir John Macneill, Knight, of Kensington, in
the County of Middlesex, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
CASES OR HOLDERS POR CONTAINING POSTAGE OR OTHER ADHESIVE STAMPS TO
FACILITATE THEIR APPLICATION TO LETTERS OR OTHER DOCUMENTS, AND IN
APPARATUS POR DAMPING SUCH LETTERS OR DOCUMENTS."
Sealed the 4th May 1869, and dated the 7th November 1868.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Sir John Macniell
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 7th November 1868.
I, Sir JOHN MACNEILL, Knight, of Kensington, in the County of
Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN CASES OR HOLDERS FOR CONTAINING POSTAGE OR OTHER
ADHESIVE STAMPS TO FACILITATE THEIR APPLICATION TO LETTERS OR OTHER
DOCUMENTS, AND IN APPARATUS FOR DAMPING SUCH LETTERS OR DOCUMENTS," to be
as follows:-
This Invention relates, first, to the construction of portable cases or
holders corresponding in size with the postage or other adhesive stamps

page_text: they are intended to hold, the depth of such cases depending on the
number of stamps they are to contain.
The bottom of the case constructed according to my improvements is
open with the exception of a narrow and thin flange projecting inwards
from the sides at the bottom of the box. The postage or other adhesive
stamps are introduced into the box or case by an aperture in the side or
end so as to rest on these flanges, the adhesive sides being placed
towards the open end of the box, and in regular order one over the other.
The stamps thus arranged are slightly pressed down by a follower or
plate of metal or other suitable material, which is made to fit the interior
of the box or case, so as to be capable of being moved easily up and down
by means of a rod attached to such follower or plate and passing
through a hole in 'the top or cover of the case; or other suitable means
may be employed for actuating the plate or follower within the case.
The plate or follower is caused to press gently upon the stamps within
the box or case by means of a spring or springs, which I prefer to
arrange in a spiral form around the rod attached to the plate or follower.
When there are no stamps in this case the top of the rod attached to the
plate or follower projects a short distance through the top or cover, and
the follower comes in contact with the flanges at the bottom. The outer
end of the rod may be furnished with a button, or may be attached to
the inside of a lid, cover, or jacket so formed as to envelope the case or
box, and by means of such button or outside jacket or cover the plate or
follower is raised when required, at the same time compressing the spring
so as to admit of the insertion of the stamps under the plate or follower
into the case. The cover or jacket, and consequently the rod and
follower, are acted upon by the spring, which forces the stamps against
the flanges at the bottom or end of the case, thus retaining them securely
within the case. The letter or document requiring a stamp is slightly
damped by the tongue or otherwise (or by means of a damping
apparatus constructed and arranged by preference in combination with
the case or holder according to my Invention, as herein-after described)
the case is then laid on the letter or document, and at the same time
pressure of the finger is applied to the button or to the top of the cover
jacket, or lid, so as to press the rod and follower down, and consequently
the stamp, on to the part of the letter or document which has been
previously damped; when this is done the pressure of the finger is
removed and the case lifted up, the adhesive matter on the stamp causing

page_text: it to be withdrawn from the small retaining flanges of the case, and be
thus left adhering to the surface of the letter or other document. The
postage or other stamps are thus presented ready for being applied in
quick succession and with great facility to any number of letters or
documents, according to the number of stamps contained in the case,
which may be capable of holding two or three hundred if required,
according to the size of the case, but for pocket use cases containing 50
or 60 stamps will be found most convenient.
When the cases are required to hold a considerable number of stamps
I prefer to combine therewith an improved apparatus for damping the
letters or documents previous to applying the stamps, such improved
damping apparatus being constructed according to my Invention in the
following manner:-A box of suitable size is arranged with a small tube
passing through the box, and across the box, immediately over this
aperture two small ledges are formed a short distance apart, and these
ledges are connected at the ends so as to form a small trough across the
box. In this trough a camel's hair brush or a slip of sponge, or cotton,.
or other suitable absorbent material is secured projecting a short distance
above the sides of the trough, and with the sponge or other material
which will retain water, threads of cotton are arranged so as to com-
municate along the bottom of the trough, and passing through the tube
before mentioned into the interior of the box or case for holding the
water. These cotton threads must be of sufficient dimensions to keep
the brush or spongy substance sufficiently wet by capillary attraction in
order to damp the letter or paper on which the stamp is to be affixed; or
a piece of cotton cloth or other absorbent substance may be laid across
the box and secured to it at the edges instead of the trough, and this
piece of cloth or other substance is kept damp by the cotton threads laid
under it and communicating through the tube before described with the
water in the reservoir or case. In order to replenish the case or cistern
for containing the water a small tap or aperture is provided in the cover
of the cistern at one side of the trough or at one of the sides of the
reservoir as may be found most convenient; this aperture when water'
has been poured in until it reaches to about half the height of the box
or cistern is closed by screwing down a tap or plug furnished with a
collar or washer of india-rubber or leather so as to prevent the escape
of the water; the damping machine is then ready for use, and may be
turned upside down or placed in any position without the water finding

page_text: its way out except that which is supplied by the capillary attraction of
the cotton threads passing to the damper. The top of the case con-
taining the damper, the central orifice for the tube, and the tap is
covered by a moveable lid, and when closed by this lid the damper may
he carried in the pocket, either separately or attached to the stamp
holder, if required. A case or box containing a considerable supply
of stamps combined with the damping apparatus when arranged accord-
ing to my Invention being of small dimensions and capable of being
carried in the pocket.
The construction of the interior flanges around the bottom of the
stamp holder may be greatly varied; as for instance, it may be a
continuous flange, or it may be serrated like the teeth of a saw, or it
may consist of two flanges, one at either end or one at either side, or
simply at the angles only; but that which I have found preferable is
that of two flanges, one at each side, and one narrower flange at one
end, the ends of the flanges being cut off at an angle, or small angular
flanges at each angle may be employed, and the construction and
arrangement of the parts of my improved portable stamp holder or case
and damper may be otherwise varied.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Sir John Macneill in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 7th May 1869.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, Sir JOHN
MACNEILL, Knight, of Kensington, in the County of Middlesex, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, hearing date the Seventh day of November, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight, in the
thirty-second year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and suc-
cessors, give and grant unto me, the said John Macneill, Her special
licence that I, the said John Macneill, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as I, the said John Macneill, my 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,.

page_text: adhesive side of the stamps being placed towards the open end of the box
and in regular order one over the other. The stamps thus arranged are
slightly pressed down by the follower or plate of metal or other suitable
material, which is made to fit the interior of the box or case so as to be
capable of moving easily up and down therein. In this arrangement a
rod is attached to the follower or plate b, and passes through a hole in
the top or cover of the case a, the other end of the rod being attached to
the outer case d, within which the case a slides, the other side or end of
the case a containing the stamps being protected when out of use by a
moveable cover or lid d', shown separately at Figures 5 and 6, and in
position at Figure 2; or other suitable means may be employed for
actuating the plate or follower b within the case. The outer case or
cover d may be dispensed with if desired, and when there are no stamps
in the case a the top of the rod b' attached to the plate or follower will
project a short distance through the top or cover, and the follower will
then come in contact with the flanges at the bottom. The outer end of
the rod when the case d is dispensed with may be furnished with a
button, as shown in section at Figure 2*, or it may be attached to the
inside of the lid, cover, or jacket d, as previously described, formed so as
to envelope the case or box, and by means of such button or outside
jacket or cover the plate or follower is raised when required, at the same
time compressing the spring so as to admit of the insertion of the stamps
under or in front of the plate or follower into the case a. The cover or
jacket, and consequently the rod and follower, are acted upon by the
spring c, which forces the stamps against the flanges a at the bottom or
end of the case a, thus retaining them securely within the case.
Figure 7 shews a side view of a case or stamp holder constructed as
previously described, the outer case d having a handle e attached thereto
suitable for office use.
Figures 8, 9, and 10 show separate views of another arrangement of
stamp holder constructed according to my Invention.
a is a rectangular frame or case furnished with projections a' on one
side as in the arrangement previously described, the other side being
also formed with flanges or projecting surfaces within the frame or
case a two moveable plates or followers band * are arranged so as to
move to and fro freely, a spiral or other suitable spring e being placed
between the plates to press them apart and towards the flanges on each
side of the frame or case a. The postage or other stamps are inserted

page_text: between the plate or follower b, and the projections or flanges a', and by
pressing the finger upon the follower the adhesive stamp will be
pressed down and deposited upon the moistened surface to which it is to
be applied. The follower 6 is recessed or indented at those parts which
come opposite to the flanges or projections a¹. The letter or document
requiring a stamp is slightly damped by the tongue or otherwise (or
by means of a damping apparatus constructed and arranged by pre-
ference in combination with the case or holder according to my Inven-
tion, as herein-after described); the case is then laid on the letter or
document, and at the same time pressure of the finger is applied to the
button or to the top of the cover, jacket, lid, or plate, so as to
press the
rod and follower & down, and consequently the stamp on to the part of
the letter or document which has been previously damped; when this is
done the pressure of the finger is removed and the case lifted up, the
adhesive matter on the stamp causing it to be withdrawn from the small
retaining flanges a' of the case a, and be thus left adhering to the surface
of the letter or other document. The postage or other stamps are thus
presented ready for being applied in quick succession and with great
facility to any number of letters or documents according to the number
of stamps contained in the case, which may be capable of holding two or
three hundred if required, according to the size of the case, but for
pocket use cases containing from two to three dozen stamps will be
found most convenient.
When the cases are required to hold a considerable number of stamps
I prefer to combine therewith an improved apparatus for damping the
letters or documents previous to applying the stamps, one arrangement
of such improved damping apparatus being constructed according to my
Invention in the following manner, as shewn in the Drawing hereunto
aunexed:-
Figures 11 and 12 are transverse and longitudinal sections, and
Figure 13 is a plan of an improved damping apparatus combined with a
stamp holder in accordance with my Invention.
is a box of suitable size, arranged with a small tube f passing
through the box; and across the box immediately over this aperture two
small ledges are formed a short distance apart, and these ledges are
connected at the ends, so as to form a small trough across the box; in
this trough a camel's hair brush, or a slip of sponge, or cotton, or other
suitable absorbent material is secured, projecting a short distance

page_text: above the sides of the trough, and with the sponge or other material
which will retain water, threads of cotton are arranged so as to com-
municate along the bottom of the trough, and passing through the tube f
before mentioned into the interior of the box or casef for holding the
water. These cotton 'threads or absorbent material y must be of sufficient
dimensions to keep the brush or spongy substance sufficiently wet by
capillary attraction in order to damp the letter or paper on which the
stamp is to be affixed, or a piece of cotton cloth or other absorbent
substance may be laid across the box and secured to it at the edges
instead of the trough; and this piece of cloth or other substance is kept
damp by the cotton threads laid under it and communicating through
the tube before described with the water in the reservoir or case. In
order to replenish the case or cistern for, containing the water a small
aperture is provided in the cover of the cistern at one side of the trough
or at one of the sides of the reservoir, as may be found most convenient;
this aperture when water has been poured in until it reaches to about
half the height of the box or cistern may be closed by screwing down a
tap or plug furnished with a collar or washer of india-rubber or leather
so as to prevent the escape of the water; but I prefer to introduce the
water into the case or reservoir through the tube passing partly into
the case, which will prevent the water from flowing back so long as
the water does not rise above the level of the tube or aperture; the
damping apparatus thus arranged is then ready for use, and may be
turned upside down or placed in any position without the water finding
its way out except that which is supplied by the capillary attraction of
the cotton threads passing to the damper.
The top of the case containing the damper, the central orifice for the
tube, and the tap may, if desired, be covered by a moveable lid, and
when closed by this lid the damper may be carried in the pocket either
separately or attached to the stamp holder if required, a case or box
containing a considerable supply of stamps combined with the damping
apparatus when arranged according to my Invention being of small
dimensions and capable of being carried in the pocket.
The construction of the interior flanges around the bottom of the
stamp holder may be greatly varied, as, for instance, it may be a
continuous flange, or it may be serrated like the teeth of a saw, or it may
consist of two flanges, one at either end or one at either side or simply
at the angles only, but the arrangenient which I have found preferable

page_text: consists of four small flanges or projections a', as shown in the
Drawing.
I would remark that the construction and arrangement of the parts
of my improved portable stamp holder or case and damping apparatus
may be considerably varied without departing from the nature of my
Invention. What I claim is,―
First. The arrangement and construction of cases or holders for
containing postage and other adhesive stamps to facilitate their
application to letters or other documents, substantially as herein shewn
and described.
Secondly. I claim the construction and arrangement of damping
apparatus as herein described and shewn in Figures 11, 12, and 13 of the
Drawing hereunto annexed, in combination with a stamp holder con-
structed and arranged in accordance with the first part of my Invention.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Macneill, have hereunto sct
my hand and seal, this Fifth day of May, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine.
Witness,
J. G. TONGUE,
Patent Agent,
34, Southampton Buildings,
Chancery Lane, W.C.
JOHN MACNEILL. (L.S.)