IMPROVEMENTS IN MOUNTING OR SETTING TRANSPARENT PHOTOGRAPHIC PICTURES
Year: 1863

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William George Helsby, of Liverpool, in tlie
County of Lancaster, Photographic Artist, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MOUNTING OR SETTING TRANSPARENT PHOTOGRAPHIC
PICTURES."
:
Sealed the 18th March 1864, and dated the 24th September 1863.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William George Helsby
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 24th September 1863.
I, WILLIAM GEORGE HELSBY, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster,
Photographic Artist, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for IMPROVEMENTS IN MOUNTING OR SETTING TRANSPARENT PHOTOGRAPHIC
PICTURES," to be as follows:-
This Invention consists, firstly, in mounting or setting at the back and front,
but preferably at the back only, of photographic pictures taken on a so-called
transparent substance or material "vignette" coloured or shaded, or other
coloured, shaped, or ornamented transparent or translucent sheets, or one sheet
only, of glass or other material, to give to the pictures a mellow and artistic
tone.
And, secondly, in mounting or setting transparent photographic pictures
arranged as above described, or transparent photographic pictures of any kind,

page_text: in binged or folding cases, somewhat similar in appearance to those at present
employed, but having oval or other shaped openings in or through one or both
of the sides or leaves thereof, so that such pictures when so mounted or set
are in a conveniently portable and ornamental state.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William George Helsby in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 23rd March 1864.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
GEORGE HELSBY, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, Photographic
Artist, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-fourth day of September, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, in the twenty-seventh year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said William George Helsby, Her special license that I, the said William
George Helsby, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I,
the said William George Helsby, 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, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN MOUNTING OR SETTING TRANSPARENT PHOTOGRAPHIC PICTURES,"
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said William George
Helsby, 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 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 William George Helsby, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement (that is to say) :-
This Invention consists, firstly, in mounting or setting at the back and front,
but preferably at the back only, of photographic pictures, taken on a so-called
transparent substance or material "vignette coloured or shaded, or other

page_text: coloured, shaded, or ornamented transparent or translucent sheets, or one sheet
only, of glass or other material, to give to the pictures a mellow and artistic
tone.
And, secondly, in mounting or setting transparent photographic pictures
arranged as above described, or transparent photographic pictures of
any kind,
in binged or folding cases, somewhat similar in appearance to those at present
employed, but having oval or other shaped openings in or through one or both
of the sides or leaves thereof, so that such pictures when so mounted or set
are in a conveniently portable and ornamental state.
The accompanying Sheet of Drawings will assist in showing how my
improvements may be carried into effect; Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a
folding case constructed according to my Invention, and Fig. 2 a vertical
section of the same case when closed. Like letters represent the same parts
in both views.
a shews the case, which may be made of the materials ordinarily employed
or of any other material or materials; b is the fastening clasp; c the opening
in the case wherein the picture is placed, and through which light is trans-
mitted to shew the said picture as a transparency; d (Fig. 1), shews roughly
a picture with the so-called vignette shading in colour there around, and
conveying an idea of a picture mounted or set according to my Invention.
In Fig. 2 three sheets of glass are shewn in position in the case. The back
one e represents a sheet of ordinary vignette coloured glass, the middle one f
a sheet of glass, transparent or opal, on the front of which a photographic
picture has been taken, and the front one g, simply a transparent protecting
cover of glass. This is the arrangement which I prefer.
Modifications of the use of vignette coloured, shaded, ornamented and
illuminated sheets may be made and somewhat similar effects produced by
using two transparent sheets, the vignette one being in front of that on which
the picture is taken, one sheet only might also be used, the picture being
taken on a vignette coloured or other illuminated or shaded or ornamented
sheet, and the picture side protected by varnish or other means. Such sheets
of glass, whether two or more are used, should be fastened together by edge
strips or otherwise.
In the Drawings, however, in Fig. 2, there is shewn a thin sheet h, placed
between the front and middle plates of glass. This thin sheet may be made
of paper, a gelatinous or resinous substance, or any other material or substance,
or represent colour paint, and it may be placed either before or behind the
photograph. The edges of such sheet may be plain, pectinated, or of any
other ornamental form, and may bave any desired figure or design thereon.

page_text: Having now set forth the nature of my said Invention, and shewn how the
same may be carried into effect, I would have it understood that I do not
confine myself to any particular material or substance for shading, colouring,
or illuminating so called transparent photographic pictures, nor do I confine
myself to the form or size of the openings in the folding case, but what I
claim is,
Firstly, mounting or setting transparent photographic pictures with vignettee
coloured, shaded, ornamented, or illuminated sheets at the back or front, or at
both the back and the front-thereof, substantially as shewn in the Drawings,
and for the purpose set forth.
And, secondly, mounting or setting transparent photographic pictures in
folding cases with one or more openings therethrough, substantially as
described and for the purpose set forth. .
In witness whereof,. I, the said William George Helsby, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twenty-second day of March, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four.
WILLIAM GEORGE HELSBY. (L.S.)
In the presence of
JOHN DAVIES,
Clerk to John T. King,
Patent Agent,
Liverpool.