[Genealib] Google Patents: A drawback

[Drew Smith]

If you do an advanced search, put "X1" in the patent number field.  This
will bring up the first patent, dated July 31, 1790.  For an explanation of
why the early patents now have an "X" as part of their number, see:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/X-Patent

Drew Smith

> -----Original Message-----
> From: genealib-bounces at mailman.acomp.usf.edu 
> [mailto:genealib-bounces at mailman.acomp.usf.edu] On Behalf Of 
> Mara Munroe
> Sent: Tuesday, December 19, 2006 1:02 PM
> To: Librarians Serving Genealogists
> Subject: RE: [Genealib] Google Patents: A drawback
> 
> I don't know how far back this is supposed to cover, but my 
> father-in-law's 1960 application is there, and so are patents 
> for the typewriter circa 1880.