IMPROVEMENTS IN POSTAL CARDS AND IN COVERS THEREFOR
Year: 1872

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LETTERS PATENT to Bristow Hunt, of No. 1, Serle Street, Lincoln's
Inn, in the County of Middlesex, Gentleman, for the Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN POSTAL CARDS AND IN COVERS THEREFOR." — A
communication from abroad by Augustus Lawrence McCrea, of
Washington, District of Columbia, in the United States of
America.
Scaled the 28th May 1872, and dated the 13th February 1872.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Bristow Hunt at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
13th February 1872.
I, BRISTOW HUNT, of No. 1, Serle Street, Lincoln's Inn, in the
County of Middlesex, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of the
said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN POSTAL CARDS AND IN COVERS THERE-
POR," (a communication to me from abroad by Augustus Lawrence
McCrea, of Washington, District of Columbia, in the United States of
America), to be as follows:-
This Invention, relating to improvements in postal cards and covers,
therefor consists in combining a flap or cover with a card during the
manufacture thereof, or in subsequently applying the same thereto,

page_text: either by gum or other suitable adhesive substance, or by eyelets or
other similar or suitable means, the object being the provision of a
simple means of protecting as well as covering and concealing the
written matter upon the card, the combination forming a card envelope,
intended to be used as a substitute for the ordinary postal card.
The card, whether made of paper or other suitable material, is by
preference made of sufficient thickness, inflexibility, or rigidity of sub-
stance as to allow of its being written upon whilst being held in the
hand, and the flap or cover is made of a similar or suitable material,
but, by preference, thinner in substance.
Amongst the various methods to be employed in which the cover is
connected or applied to and retained on the card for the above purpose
may be mentioned the following as examples :-
According to one modification the cover is made separate and slightly
larger than the card, the extended parts being cemented, and when the
cover is applied to the card fastened to the back thereof; or the cover
is secured in position to the card by one of its cemented or adhesive
edges, forming thereby a saleable card envelope, and the remaining edges
may be fastened after the card is written upon.
According to a second modification the cover is made smaller than
or of the same size as the card and (its edges or corners being gummed
or otherwise cemented) it is applied and fastened directly to the face of
the card.
According to a third modification the adhesive substance or cement
is applied to the edges or corners of the card cither on the front or
back thereof.
According to a fourth modification the cover and card are secured
together by cemented bands or strips of paper lapped round and fastened
to the edges thereof.
According to a fifth modification the card envelope is made of a card
and a thinner flap or cover in one picce, the two being connected or
hinged at one edge either during the process of manufacture or sub-
sequently by webbing or eyelets or other similar or suitable means.
According to a sixth modification the free edge of the cover is formed
with a tongue, which fastens in a slit in the card.
Although it is preferable it is not absolutely necessary in all cases
that the cover should be of thinner or more flexible material than the

page_text: card, as they may both be formed of one piece, and simply folded at
about the middle, and the ends secured together by cement or other-
wise.
Various other modes, including combinations of the above, of securing
and retaining the cover after it has been applied to the card can be
employed. The address and stamp may be upon the back of the card.
A salcable article of manufacture may be made by embossing or printing
the stamp upon the cover, and by preparing the latter to receive the
address, or by printing it thereon, if necessary, such a cover being
applicable to any unprepared card which may be available. The card
also or the cover, if the card is used for the address, may have advertise-
ments or other matter printed thereon.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Bristow Hunt in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 13th August 1872.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, BRISTOW
HUNT, of No. 1, Serle Street, Lincoln's Inn, in the County of
Middlesex, Gentleman, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Thirteenth day of February, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two, in the
thirty-fifth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and suc.
cessors, give and grant unto me, the said Bristow Hunt, Her special
licence that I, the said Bristow Hunt, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as I, the said Bristow Hunt, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no
others, from time to time and at all times thercafter during the term
therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and
vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the
Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
POSTAL CARDS AND IN COVERS THEREFOR," being a communication to me
from abroad by Augustus Lawrence McCrea, of Washington, District of
Columbia, in the United States of America, upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said Bristow Hunt, my executors or administrators,
by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands
and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the

page_text: said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed,
and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within
six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said
Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Bristow Hunt, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement in writing, and on reference being had to
the accompanying Sheet of Drawings, that is to say:-
This Invention relates to improvements in postal cards and covers
therefor, and consists in combining a flap or cover with a card during
the manufacture thereof, or in subsequently applying the same thereto,
either by gum or by other suitable adhesive substance, or by eyelets or
other similar or suitable means, the object being the provision of a
simple means of protecting as well as covering and concealing the
written matter upon the card, the combination forming a card
envelope, intended to be used as a substitute for the ordinary post
card.
The card A, whether made of paper or other suitable material, is
by preference made of sufficient thickness, inflexibility, or rigidity of 1
substance (which may be imparted to it by sizing or coating it) as to
allow of its being written upon whilst being held in the hand, and the
flap or cover B is made of a similar or suitable material, but by preference
thinner in substance.
Amongst the various means employed for carrying out the above-
mentioned purpose in practice may be mentioned the following
:-
According to one modification the cover is made separate and slightly
larger than the card, the extended parts being cemented, see Figure 2,
and which when the cover is applied to the card are moistened, turned
down, and fastened to the back thereof. Or the cover is secured in
position to the card by one of its cemented or adhesive edges, forming
thereby a saleable card envelope, see Figure 1, and the remaining edges
fastened after the card is written upon.
According to a second modification the cover is made of the same size
as or smaller than the card, and (its edges or corners being gummed or
otherwise cemented) applied and fastened directly to the face of the
card, see Figure 3.

page_text: According to a third modification the adhesive substance or cement is
applied to the edges or corners of the card, either on the front or back
thereof, see Figure 4.
According to a fourth modification the card envelope is made of a
card and a thinner flap or cover in one piece, see Figure 5, the two being
connected at one edge during the process of manufacture, or they may
be secured subsequently by webbing or eyelets, or other similar or
suitable means, see Figure 6.
According to a fifth modification the free edge of the cover is formed
with a tongue, which fastens in a slit in the card, see Figure 8.
According to a sixth modification the cover and card are secured
together, when placed in position, by cemented bands or strips of paper
lapped round and fastened to the edges thereof, see Figure 7.
Although it is preferable it is not absolutely necessary in all cases
that the cover should be of thinner or more flexible material than the
card, as they may both be formed of one piece, and simply folded at or
at about the middle, and the free ends secured together by cement or
otherwise.
Various other methods on similar principles (including combinations
of the above) of securing and retaining the cover after it has been applied
to the card can be employed. The address and stamp may be upon the
back of the card, and a saleable article of manufacture may be made by
embossing or printing the stamp upon the cover, and by preparing the
latter to receive the address, or by printing it thereon if necessary, such
a covering being applicable to any unprepared card which may be
available. The card also or the cover, if the card is used for the address,
may have advertisements or other matter printed thereon.
Having now described the nature and object of the said Invention
for "Improvements in Postal Cards and in Covers therefor," together
with the manner in which the same is to be or may be performed or
carried into practical effect, I would remark in conclusion that I claim
as the Invention (communicated to me by the above-named Augustus
Lawrence McCrea),—
First. The combination and arrangement of a stiff or rigid card A and
a flexible flap B, substantially as herein shown and described.
Second. A card envelope, consisting of a card and a cover retained
in a position on the card to cover the writing thereon.

page_text: Third. As a new or improved article of manufacture a card envelope,
consisting of a card and a cover secured to one edge of the latter, the
card or cover being gummed or otherwise constructed so as to permit the
ready securing of one or more of the remaining edges of the cover to
the card.
Fourth. As a new or improved article of manufacture a card having
adhesive material at the edges for the purpose set forth.
Fifth. As a new or improved article of manufacture a cover having
adhesive material at the edges and adapted to be applied to a card as
specified.
Sixth. A card slit to receive one or more flaps upon a cover.
And seventh. A card envelope consisting of a rigid body and thin flap
of one piece of paper.
In witness whereof, I, the said Bristow Hunt, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twelfth day of August, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two.
DDISTOW ITTIN
BRISTOW HUNT. (L.S.)