July 31, 2011 • 1 note • http
Today’s Patent of the Past is a great one, since it is the first patent on record!  Number 00001!  Granted to Samuel Hopkins on July 31, 1790, this patent was granted for an improved method of making pot ash and pearl ash.  Here is the text:  Whereas Samuel Hopkins of the City of Philadelphia and State of Pensylvania hath discovered an Improvement, not known or used before, such Discovery, in the making of Pot ash and Pearl ash by a new Apparatus and Proceſs; that is to say, in the making of Pearl ash 1st. by burning the raw Ashes in a Furnace, 2d. by disſolving and boiling them when so burnt in Water, 3rd. by drawing off and settling the Ley, and 4th. by boiling the Ley into Salts which then are the true Pearl ash; and also in the making of Pot ash by fluxing the Pearl ash so made as aforesaid; which Operation of burning the raw Ashes in a Furnace, preparatory to their Diſsolution and boiling in Water, is new, leaves little Residuum; and produces a much greater Quantity of Salt: These are therefore in pursuance of the Act, entituled “An Act to promote the Progreſs of useful Arts”, to grant to the said Samuel Hopkins, his Heirs, Administrators and Aſsigns, for the Term of fourteen Years, the sole and exclusive Right and Liberty of using, and vending to others the said Discovery, of burning the raw Ashes previous to their being diſsolved and boiled in Water, according to the true Intent and Meaning, of the Act aforesaid. In Testimony whereof I have caused these Letters to be made patent, and the Seal of the United States to be hereunto affixed. Given under my Hand at the City of New York this thirty first Day of July in the Year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred & Ninety.

Today’s Patent of the Past is a great one, since it is the first patent on record!  Number 00001!  Granted to Samuel Hopkins on July 31, 1790, this patent was granted for an improved method of making pot ash and pearl ash.  Here is the text: 

Whereas Samuel Hopkins of the City of Philadelphia and State of Pensylvania hath discovered an Improvement, not known or used before, such Discovery, in the making of Pot ash and Pearl ash by a new Apparatus and Proceſs; that is to say, in the making of Pearl ash 1st. by burning the raw Ashes in a Furnace, 2d. by disſolving and boiling them when so burnt in Water, 3rd. by drawing off and settling the Ley, and 4th. by boiling the Ley into Salts which then are the true Pearl ash; and also in the making of Pot ash by fluxing the Pearl ash so made as aforesaid; which Operation of burning the raw Ashes in a Furnace, preparatory to their Diſsolution and boiling in Water, is new, leaves little Residuum; and produces a much greater Quantity of Salt: These are therefore in pursuance of the Act, entituled “An Act to promote the Progreſs of useful Arts”, to grant to the said Samuel Hopkins, his Heirs, Administrators and Aſsigns, for the Term of fourteen Years, the sole and exclusive Right and Liberty of using, and vending to others the said Discovery, of burning the raw Ashes previous to their being diſsolved and boiled in Water, according to the true Intent and Meaning, of the Act aforesaid. In Testimony whereof I have caused these Letters to be made patent, and the Seal of the United States to be hereunto affixed. Given under my Hand at the City of New York this thirty first Day of July in the Year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred & Ninety.

January 29, 2011 • patft.uspto.gov
Patent from January 29th, 1791!  The patent was granted to Francis Bailey in Philadelphia for his inventive improvement of printing technique.  Here is the text of the patent:  Whereas Francis Bailey of the City of Philadelphia in the State of Pennsylvania, Printer, hath invented certain methods, not before known or used, performing Punches by which to impress on the … . . Matrices of printing Types, whether such Types be for Setters or Devices as well as to impress on any Metal or other Substance capable of receiving and retaining Impressions various Marks which are difficult to be counterfeited; and the said invention appears to be useful and important; These are therefore in pursuance of the Act, entitled “An Act to promote the progress of Useful Arts”, to grant to the said Francis Bailey, his Heirs, Administrators and Assigns, for the Term of fourteen Years, the sole and exclusive Right and Liberty of using and vending to others the said Improvement, according to the true Intent and Meaning of the Act aforesaid. In Testimony whereof I have caused these Letters to be made patent and the Seal of the United States to be hereunto affixed. Given under my Hand at the City of Philadelphia this Twenty ninth Day of January in the Year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and Nintyone and of the Independence of the United States of America the Fifteenth.Type PatentDelivered to the within named Francis Bailey this thirty first of January 1971City of Philadelphia January 29th 1791 To do hereby Certify that the foregoing Letters patent were delivered to me in pursuance of the Act entitled “An Act to promote the progress of useful Arts”, that I have examined the same, and find them comformable to the said Act.Edm RandolphAttorney generalof theUnited States

Patent from January 29th, 1791!  The patent was granted to Francis Bailey in Philadelphia for his inventive improvement of printing technique.  Here is the text of the patent: 

Whereas Francis Bailey of the City of Philadelphia in the State of Pennsylvania, Printer, hath invented certain methods, not before known or used, performing Punches by which to impress on the … . . Matrices of printing Types, whether such Types be for Setters or Devices as well as to impress on any Metal or other Substance capable of receiving and retaining Impressions various Marks which are difficult to be counterfeited; and the said invention appears to be useful and important; These are therefore in pursuance of the Act, entitled “An Act to promote the progress of Useful Arts”, to grant to the said Francis Bailey, his Heirs, Administrators and Assigns, for the Term of fourteen Years, the sole and exclusive Right and Liberty of using and vending to others the said Improvement, according to the true Intent and Meaning of the Act aforesaid.

In Testimony whereof I have caused these Letters to be made patent and the Seal of the United States to be hereunto affixed. Given under my Hand at the City of Philadelphia this Twenty ninth Day of January in the Year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and Nintyone and of the Independence of the United States of America the Fifteenth.
Type Patent
Delivered to the within named Francis Bailey this thirty first of January 1971

City of Philadelphia January 29th 1791

To do hereby Certify that the foregoing Letters patent were delivered to me in pursuance of the Act entitled “An Act to promote the progress of useful Arts”, that I have examined the same, and find them comformable to the said Act.
Edm Randolph
Attorney general
of the
United States