Sketchbook owner's name?

[beatrice834]

Once again, thanks for your interest.  I am attaching the title of the two-page watercolour of Gibraltar, sent to me this afternoon.  Is it by the same hand?  I had not looked closely at the title before but am sure now that it refers to RN ship "Indus", so maybe the artist was on board and was a naval man?

The book was bought this year from a charity shop in Surrey - no Gift Aid label which might have led to the donor. 

[Karen McDonald]

Going by the "Sep", I'd say it was the same hand.

And looking at the "br" in Gibraltar (as well as the - if that's what it is! - "HMS" before "Indus"), the signature or whatever it is could have us guessing for a long while..! 

Karen
 
Edited:
Oops.  There's a "not" missing...
Please read:
Going by the "Sep", I'd say it was NOT the same hand.

(The "Sep" is the only bit which is in both examples, and they are definitely very different.)

[mckha489]

Going by the "Sep", I'd say it was the same hand.

And looking at the "br" in Gibraltar (as well as the - if that's what it is! - "HMS" before "Indus"), the signature or whatever it is could have us guessing for a long while..! 

Karen

I don't think thats HMS I think it's 'from'    but you are right. It's impossible!

[bbart]

Maybe it's the following ship (snippet taken from the Aberdeen Herald and General Advertiser 17 September 1853):

[Rosinish]

I'm not convinced it's 53, to me it looks like 58 but it also looks as if it's a '£' sign before the year 

I wonder if there are crew lists for 'Indus'?

Annie

[Ruskie]

Gibraltar
from "Indus"
28 Sep * 58

* this does look like a £ as suggested by Annie, though it would make more sense if it was an abbreviation related to a date (presumably 1858) unless the artist was trying to sell the painting. £58 is far too much to charge for an amateur work in the 1850s I would think.

Presumably the artist was on board the Indus when they did the painting. He could have been crew or a passenger.

I can see virtually no similarities in the two examples of writing, and would say they are definitely written by different people.

You say this is a two page watercolour? Is it loose within the book or attached at the spine? I am asking in case this watercolour was just put into the book for safe keeping and may not relate to the owner of the book.  Can I confirm that the rest of the pages in the book are blank?

Surrey may be a clue - you wouldn't expect something like that to travel too far. Though the book is very interesting it's monetary (and possibly sentimental) value is low.

[Rosinish]

I've copied & enhanced the last image & what I think is £58 looks to have been written separately (at a later date) from the original writing i.e. it's very difficult to determine any facts other than the ship name (Indus) & place name (Gibraltar) 

Annie

[Rosinish]

I don't think thats HMS I think it's 'from'    but you are right. It's impossible!

I would agree, it looks like 'from' i.e. passing by

Annie

[Rosinish]

Just a thought but...

My Reply #33, the person who bought it may have added the price paid at the time of purchase?
This may have been many yrs later?
The colour of the ink is different 

Annie