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Old Photographs, Recognition, Handwriting Deciphering => Handwriting Deciphering & Recognition => Topic started by: Pippakit on Sunday 11 April 10 01:08 BST (UK)
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I have a 1897 silver fob engraved with fancy ornate initials, but the trouble is they are too fancy! I can't make them out. I don't know which member of my family it belonged to, so the initials should give me a clue.
Any suggestions?
Thank you.
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Yes! I see what you mean :o
My suggestions would be four letters, I think I can see a "T" a "C" and an "S" with a large "R".
The wide stroke going across the top looks to be part of the "R" with the tail ending up at the extreme right!
The first letter on the left looks to be an old style "T".
Regards, Ken
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I thought it might be "HCR" :-\
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I'm leaning HCR as well with the R possibly a family surname ??
D Blun
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I found this example of "Ribbon Script".
The letters are TFP
Perhaps you should consult an oldstyle hand engraver!
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Hmmmm... I'm starting to think it is HCR as well :-[
Here is an example that is "clearly" CRG
What I thought was an "S" is probably the "straight bit" of the "R".
Regards, Ken
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I can see H B S. ???
Not an excelent example....
Leonie.
Added; changed my mind, HRS. With bottom of H tailored to fit the shield.
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Looks like HCR to me.
John C
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Hi Pippakit,
Im deffo seeing the letter "H". The letters C and R are a possible, but not 100% sure.
Hazel :)
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Hi...I just realised I spelt your name wrong!
Sorry.
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Thank you everybody for your replies. My family surnames include Ruscoe and Rathbone, so I am pleased that you think the last letter is an R. The fob comes from that side of the family, I am inclined towards the Ruscoes as I don't think the Rathbones would have had the money for such things!
However I willl now have to investigate a bit further as I can't think who would have had HC as their first names. There is a Henry, but as far as I am aware he didn't have a middle name.
Thanks again.
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It could possibly be TCR, where the C has 2 downstrokes to make up for its otherwise simple form, and the first downstroke doesn't have flourishes like the other letters.
I can't see a bridging line to make and H of the first letter.
Colin
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Looking again, I think Colin might be right about the first letter not being an H. What I thought was a cross-line is actually a scratch in the silver.
I've gone over each of the engraved lines with a different colour. This doesn't necessarily mean that one colour = one letter, I just thought it might make it easier for people to sort out all the different curlicues ;)
Cheers
Prue
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Nicely done Prue. :)
What I see is the Yellow line as part of the flourishing R, which leaves the purple C shape in the middle to join up with the red C.
Colin
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I think the purple "C" should be a separate colour, actually, now that I look at it...the flourish out to the left of the "R" ends where the top curl of the "C" begins.
Still, I'm glad you think it has helped! ;D
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Wow, thanks Prue! The colours certainly make it much easier to see the letters.
I can see what you mean Colin about the first letter being a T. This was actually my first thought when I got this fob - either a J or a T.
It gives me more food for thought as to who it might have belonged to.
Thank you everybody for your input.
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That helps a lot Prue. :D
I still think it's H R S. Also, I think the central R is larger and probably the family name, with the H S as given names.
Leonie.