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Old Photographs, Recognition, Handwriting Deciphering => Handwriting Deciphering & Recognition => Topic started by: ROC on Wednesday 24 August 11 14:37 BST (UK)
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Hi there, I'm wondering if anyone could read the handwriting in the attached photo.
It is on the rear of a very old portrait photograph of a male family member.
It's probably quite clear what this says to some people, but not to me unfortunately!
I can identify a few words here and there but if someone could write out what the whole thing says, it'd be much appreciated.
Thanks!
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Queenstown
From a most particular friend
To a fond one.
Hoping Mrs and self
are well
... ........ this day 25th Sep 15th
Wondered whether the second word on bottom line was something to do with furlough?
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Could it be "Am sailing 15th Sep 15th"
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Wow, that's interesting... It's a very vague sort of note to send.
I was reading that word as both 'furlong' and then I wondered if it would be 'Galway' which is a city in Ireland..
Thank you!
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Oh yes, that would make sense. 'Queenstown' was the name for 'Cobh' in County Cork at one time, and that is where all of the ships went out of, so very likely it is 'sailing'.
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Could it be "Am sailing 15th Sep 15th"
I was wondering if that date was 15th Sep 18[xx], with the two last digits after the 18 in tiny writing? It could be 1881, perhaps?
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Certainly could be right, the number I originally read as 5 doesn't look like the previous 5 anyway, although that appears to have been over-written perhaps from a 4, so may have been written more carefully to make the change.
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If we could see the front of the photo, it might clear up whether it's supposed to be "18xx" or "[19]15" :)
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Looks like date and time to me as in:
Am sailing this day 25th Sept. 1500 (as in 3pm)
Leanne
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Think you might be right Leanne - thinking about the use of post as quick or almost-immediate communication in former days, it's unlikely that the message would give the year as the recipient would presumably be getting the note the day it was written, or within a day or two afterwards.
I have postcards written by my great-grandmother pre-WW1, written and posted from London in the morning, to let recipient know she would be arriving at their home that evening! Obviously telephones were either not used much, or few and far between.
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I think it says 'Am sending this - day.... '
At first I thought the year was 15, but now I favour 18. Perhaps this was noted because of postal problems during the war.
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Picture is definitely from the 1800s. I don't have the front scanned now but I can do it later in the week.
I think you are right about that being the time, that makes more sense.
'Sending' fits in this place too, as in he's sending the postcard.
The only reason he would have been in Queenstown is because he was sailing somewhere, so it's hard to say which word that is. http://www.findingmyirish.com/emigration-queenstown.htm
Thanks to you all for your help!
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I agree with Mary,and also cannot work out what the two words are,but I wonder if the date might be 25th Sept 15 (as in 1915)
I think the squiggle after the 25 is from the crossed out bit on the line above.
Oops I came in on page one and not two,but I still think it says as above!
Carol
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Now with other's suggestions I'm inclined to think 15pm
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Hmmm.. interesting.
They probably didn't use the 24 hour clock in casual speak back then, did they? And they probably wouldn't put 'pm' with the 24 hour clock.
My eyes are seeing every possibility written in it now! ;D
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And they probably wouldn't put 'pm' with the 24 hour clock.
Dohhh of course not
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As a sidetrack, I'm not sure when a.m. and p.m. began to be used. Bradshaw's railway guide (1922) used mrn and aft.
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I thought the date was 1915 and it reads like someone joining a troop ship during World War 1. Queenstown/Cobh was used as a port for both English and American warships.