IMPROVEMENTS IN THE COVERS OR BINDINGS FOR BOOKS AND BLOTTING CASES
Year: 1862

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Cleophas Ratliff, of Coventry, in the County of
Warwick, Ribbon Manufacturer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE COVERS OR BINDINGS FOR BOOKS AND BLOTTING CASES."
Sealed the 15th August 1862, and dated the 28th February 1862.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Cleophas Ratliff
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,.
on the 28th February 1862.
I, JOHN CLEOPHAS RATLIFF, of Coventry, in the County of Warwick,
Ribbon Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE COVERS OR BINDINGS FOR BOOKS AND BLOTTING CASES,"
to be as follows:-
My Invention of improvements in the covers or bindings for books and
blotting cases consists in making the covers or bindings of books ornamental
by the use of woven figured fabrics either of silk, cotton, wool, hair, or other
fibrous material.
In carrying out my Invention I first prepare a suitable design according to
the character or nature and size of the book or other article to be bound, and
a loom having been prepared in the usual or other suitable manner for
weaving a figured fabric cither in plain or ornamental colours the desired
pattern is, woven for the two sides and back of the book, either in one or more

page_text: pieces. These figured covers may be used in placo of leather, ornamental,
or embossed paper, or cloth, or other material usually employed in book-
binding.
If several copies of the same pattern be required they may of course be woven
in succession in one piece of any convenient length, and be afterwards sub-
divided in the pieces required for binding one book or other article. I also
propose to weave ornamental patterns in silk or other suitable fibrous material
for the inside or "ends" of covers or boards of books or blotting cases. By
these means and by a judicious combination of colours bindings of great
elegance and richness of ornamentation may be produced, and if desired the
edges and corners of the book or cover may be protected by metal or other
hard substance, so that they may not be rubbed or made ragged by
wear.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said John Cleophas Ratliff in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 28th August 1862.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
CLEOPHAS RATLIFF, of Coventry, in the County of Warwick, Ribbon Manu-
facturer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-eighth day of February, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two, in the twenty-fifth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant
unto me, the said John Cleophas Ratliff, Her special license that I,
the said John Cleophas Ratliff, my exccutors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said John Cleophas Ratliff, 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 "IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE COVERS OR BINDINGS FOR BOOKS AND BLOTTING CASES," upon the
condition, amongst others, that I, the said John Cleophas Ratliff, by an
instrument in writing under my hand and seal, 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.

page_text: Patent Office, within six calendar months next and immediately after the
date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said John Cleophas Ratliff, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement (that is to say):-
My Invention of "Improvements in the Covers or Bindings for Books and
Blotting Cases" consists in making the covers or bindings of books orna-
mental by the use of woven figured fabrics either of silk, cotton, wool, hair, or
other fibrous material.
In carrying out my Invention I first prepare a suitable design, according to
the character or nature and size of the book or other article to be bound.
For instance, supposing it be required to produce a cover for a Bible, Church
service, or prayer book, the ornamental design or pattern would probably be
some sacred, historical, or allegorical subject, and must be designed of the
proper form and dimensions to fit the sides and back of the book. If the
covers be intended for some secular, historical, or scientific work, such as an
account of travels or voyages, or on such subject as botany or natural
history, the ornamental woven pattern should be of a design having somo
reference to the contents of the work; as, for instance, compositions of flowers
for a botanical work, or pictures of animals for natural history. The pattern
or design for the cover having been fixed upon, and a jacquard loom having
been prepared in the usual or other suitable manner for weaving a figured
fabric either in plain or ornamental colours, the desired pattern is woven for
the two sides and back of the book either in one or more pieces. These orna-
mental covers made of figured woven fabric may then be used in place of
leather, ornamental or embossed paper or cloth, or other material usually
employed in bookbinding.
If several copies of the same pattern be required, they may of course be
woven in succession in one piece of any convenient length, and be afterwards
subdivided into the piece or pieces required for binding one book or other
article.
The process of bookbinding is precisely the same when my ornamental
covers are employed as when plain silk or other woven fabric is used in
ordinary bookbinding, and therefore does not require any special description.
Ornamental patterns in silk or other suitable fibrous material may also be
woven, and used for the inside or "ends" of covers or boards of books or
blotting cases. By these means and by a judicious combination of colours,
bindings of great elegance and richness of ornamentation may be produced at

page_text: a comparatively moderate cost, and if desired the edges and corners of the book
or cover may be protected by metal or other hard substance, so that they may
not be rubbed or made ragged by wear.
Having now described my Invention of "Improvements in the Covers or
Bindings of Books and Blotting Cases," and having explained the manner of
carrying the same into effect, I would observe that I am aware that books
have been covered or bound in woven fabrics, having ornamental patterns
thereon, produced either by weaving or embossing, but such ornamental patterns
have always been woven or embossed in a running pattern extending through-
out the piece, and, moreover, such patterns have never been specially designed
for books of given size, nor have they been intended to typify the contents of
the book. I am also aware that covers for books have been made in worsted
work or in hand embroidery, but such work would be far too expensive to
admit of it being generally employed for the purpose. I do not claim the use
of any such fabrics, but what I claim as the Invention secured to me by
Letters Patent as aforesaid is, making the covers and ends of books and
blotting cases of figured woven fabrics in which ornamental designs or
patterns adapted to the size of the book, and typical of the contents, and
specially designed for the purpose are woven in either plain or coloured silk,
as herein set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Cleophas Ratliff, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, the Twenty-seventh day of August, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two.
.
Witness,
T. NOLAN,
66, Chancery Lane.
J. C. RATLIFF. (L.S.)