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Old Photographs, Recognition, Handwriting Deciphering => Handwriting Deciphering & Recognition => Topic started by: James18 on Sunday 08 January 17 18:30 GMT (UK)

Title: Inscription in the back of a King James Bible
Post by: James18 on Sunday 08 January 17 18:30 GMT (UK)
Hi all,

If anyone would be willing to help decipher this inscription (https://i.imgur.com/65pP0Ps.jpg) on the last page of my grandfather's King James Bible I'd be most grateful.

So far, we think it says:

love & mercy
heal humanity
ability to save souls
full sanctity
succour, a life temporal

Or at least those are suggestions I've received.

However, the quality of the handwriting makes it very difficult to be certain, and I am totally oblivious to the choice and meaning of these words. Is it a quote or a religious passage of some kind, or simply jottings?

Any and all help would be much appreciated.

Thank you!
Title: Re: Inscription in the back of a King James Bible
Post by: matthewj64 on Sunday 08 January 17 18:49 GMT (UK)
Maybe Lost humanity?
Title: Re: Inscription in the back of a King James Bible
Post by: arthurk on Sunday 08 January 17 18:56 GMT (UK)
I wonder if the last couple of words might be something like diff[iculties] temp[orary]?

Looks a bit like sermon notes - one that he heard, perhaps, or did he give them as well?

Arthur
Title: Re: Inscription in the back of a King James Bible
Post by: James18 on Sunday 08 January 17 19:43 GMT (UK)
He wasn't any kind of ministers, no, though sermon notes have been suggested to me. I think it's very possible.
Title: Re: Inscription in the back of a King James Bible
Post by: Girl Guide on Sunday 08 January 17 22:57 GMT (UK)
I'm dubious about sanctity as there is no crossing of the 't' as there is in humanity and ability.

I'm wondering if the word you have as full is face?  The 'c' looks the same as the one in 'succour' and 'mercy'.

I see the word after full/face as having the letters fy on the end.
Title: Re: Inscription in the back of a King James Bible
Post by: phenolphthalein on Sunday 08 January 17 23:18 GMT (UK)
I think it may be a list of characteristics / attributes of Christ.

put he then [full of] love & mercy
                  [able to] heal humanity
                  ability to save souls
                  [had] full sanctity
                  [able to] succour
                  [had] a life temporal

{added I can not see the original document -- do not know why}
{added if not heal humanity maybe [had] full humanity or [able to] save humanity ?]}
Title: Re: Inscription in the back of a King James Bible
Post by: Treetotal on Sunday 08 January 17 23:39 GMT (UK)
Maybe Lost humanity?
x

That's what I see.
Carol
Title: Re: Inscription in the back of a King James Bible
Post by: LizzieW on Monday 09 January 17 12:56 GMT (UK)
I think it may be a list of characteristics / attributes of Christ.

put he then [full of] love & mercy
                  [able to] heal humanity
                  ability to save souls
                  [had] full sanctity
                  [able to] succour
                  [had] a life temporal

{added I can not see the original document -- do not know why}
{added if not heal humanity maybe [had] full humanity or [able to] save humanity ?]}

Did you click on the words "this inscription" in the OP's first comment?
Title: Re: Inscription in the back of a King James Bible
Post by: James18 on Monday 09 January 17 16:23 GMT (UK)
Lost / heal is indeed a tricky one. Could be either.

Personally I think 'humanity' looks a bit... off, for that word, but I have no alternatives.
Title: Re: Inscription in the back of a King James Bible
Post by: Treetotal on Monday 09 January 17 16:29 GMT (UK)
Is this any help...I still see Lost Humanitie
Carol
Title: Re: Inscription in the back of a King James Bible
Post by: James18 on Monday 09 January 17 16:56 GMT (UK)
You're probably right, and it makes sense within the context of the other words, but it looks more like an -ie suffix than a -y suffix.

Humanity / Humanitie ?
Title: Re: Inscription in the back of a King James Bible
Post by: Geoff-E on Monday 09 January 17 17:17 GMT (UK)
Isn't sealing souls a Mormon thing?
Title: Re: Inscription in the back of a King James Bible
Post by: Treetotal on Monday 09 January 17 17:49 GMT (UK)
I thought it said Save souls?
Carol
Title: Re: Inscription in the back of a King James Bible
Post by: James18 on Monday 09 January 17 19:08 GMT (UK)
He wasn't a Mormon, although his wife was Plymouth Brethren.
Title: Re: Inscription in the back of a King James Bible
Post by: James18 on Tuesday 01 August 17 11:50 BST (UK)
I'm dubious about sanctity as there is no crossing of the 't' as there is in humanity and ability.

I'm wondering if the word you have as full is face?  The 'c' looks the same as the one in 'succour' and 'mercy'.

I see the word after full/face as having the letters fy on the end.
Looking at this again, you may well be right, but I can't for the life of me work out what the word would be, if it isn't sanctity.

To be clear, this would be the fourth row down.

Any takers?

love & mercy
lost humanity
ability to save souls
face ??  or full ??  (could be 'sanctity')
succour, a life temp.
Title: Re: Inscription in the back of a King James Bible
Post by: Doug Engle on Tuesday 11 September 18 11:05 BST (UK)
I second on "save" souls