Patent Registration Drawings
Scope and Contents
The Patent Registration Drawings collection consists of 23 printed ledger sheets issued by the United States Patent Office between 1878 and 1892. Twenty-one sheets show designs for typefaces, borders, and ornaments submitted by the American and German typographers William M. Capitain (1), James M. Conner (1), Georg F. Giesecke (2), Charles E. Heyer (2), Charles S. Hazlett (1), Hermann Ihlenburg (8), Frank M. Powell (1), Carl Schraubstadter Jr. (1), Julius Schmohl and Ernst Lauschke (2), and James West (2). Each sheet holds an image of the design (either printed directly on the sheet or a photograph adhered to the sheet), signatures of the designer and witnesses, and annotations by office staff with dates of contact and approval. Also present are 2 sheets holding designs by Alfred Dwight for a printer's bodkin and a type case.
Dates
- Creation: 1878 - 1891
Conditions Governing Access
This collection is open to researchers.
Historical Information on United States Typeface Patents
A patent for an invention is the grant of a property right to the inventor, issued by the United States Patent and Trademark Office. Once issued, the inventor is granted the right to exclude others from making, using, offering for sale, selling or importing the invention. Design patents may be granted to anyone who invents a new, original, and ornamental design for an article of manufacture. Font designs are protectable by design patents in the United States since 1842, when a font designed by George Bruce was the first to be patented.
Extent
.5 Linear Feet (1 box)
Language
English
Overview
The Patent Registration Drawings collection consists of 23 printed ledger sheets issued by the United States Patent Office between 1878 and 1892 and submitted by American and German typographers.
Custodial History
Peter J. Gerace’s father was a collector. He purchased a large collection of out dated patents in the mid 1980’s at an auction on the Eastern Shore of MD. After he passed away in 2003, Peter J. Gerace and the family were committed to keeping the patents that relate to a particular group together, hence, gifted the RIT Cary Graphic Arts Collection the design patents.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Donated to Cary Graphic Arts Collection by Peter Gerace in 2011.
Processing Information
Collection was processed by staff of the Cary Graphic Arts Collection, date unknown. Finding aid created by Shani Avni in July 2020.
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Cary Graphic Arts Collection Repository
