Toilet Paper Roll Patent Print
Settling the great debate since 1891: over, not under.
This is the original patent drawing for the toilet paper roll, granted to Seth Wheeler on 22 December 1891 as US 465,588. The famous sheet shows the perforated roll and its holder in clear diagram — the very drawing wheeled out whenever the internet argues about which way the paper should hang.
There's a real delight in owning so celebrated a patent, a genuine piece of everyday history and one of the most quietly useful ideas ever committed to paper.
A brilliant, funny gift for the trivia lover, the design geek, the good-humoured host or anyone who enjoys a conversation-starter. Choose from six finishes — vintage Old Paper, architect's Blueprint, chalky Blackboard, crisp White, deep Navy or rich Burgundy — the ideal print for a downstairs loo, bathroom or cloakroom wall.
Print size & quality
Every piece is printed on thick, 175gsm fine-art matte paper with archival inks — so the colours stay rich, deep and true for years, with no fading and no fuss. Before it heads your way, it's wrapped in soft tissue to keep it scratch-free and sent out in a sturdy kraft tube or a robust triangular kraft box (never plastic).
Available sizes
Framing options
Fancy it ready to hang? Add a solid pine frame — sturdy, handsome and built to last. Take your pick from black, natural wood, or white. Each one is 20–25mm deep and 10–14mm wide: the sweet spot between strength and understated good looks.
We finish every frame with shatterproof, crystal-clear plexiglass to keep your print pristine — and it arrives already framed, so it goes straight from the box to your wall with no faff.
Framing is available for these sizes: A4, A3, A2, A1, 8x10, 11x14, 12x16, 12x18, 16x20, 18x24, 20x28, 24x32, 24x36 and 28x40.
Shipping & returns
Designed in Edinburgh, printed close to you. We've teamed up with trusted print partners across the globe, so your order is made and posted from wherever's nearest — order from the US, for instance, and it's printed and shipped by our US partner. That means it reaches you sooner, and travels a lot less to get there.
Changed your mind? Not a problem. Every order is covered by our 30-day, no-quibbles money-back guarantee — if it's not quite right, send it back within 30 days for a full refund, no questions asked.