*Please note- This site search does not include the Vic. & Tas. BMD's, Lots o' Links & Worth a Look Books
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Some Handwriting can be quite neat,
And looking for names a real treat;
But Script long ago
is hard as you know
so reading it is no mean feat!
And looking for names a real treat;
But Script long ago
is hard as you know
so reading it is no mean feat!
DECIPHERING OLD HANDWRITING
The following Slideshows may be helpful in trying to recognize some difficult letters. As each person has their own style of handwriting today, the same was the case 200 years or so ago. I like to lighten things up with a bit of humour, I believe that if it's presented in a 'quirky way', you're more inclined to remember it.
Keep these things in mind-
1. Does it make sense when you read it?
2. Compare the handwriting with other words on the same page.
3. Look at the way the person did their strokes.
4. What terminology was used during that period? (Wills etc.)
5. Don't assume! Many a Thomas has been written as Edward.
Keep these things in mind-
1. Does it make sense when you read it?
2. Compare the handwriting with other words on the same page.
3. Look at the way the person did their strokes.
4. What terminology was used during that period? (Wills etc.)
5. Don't assume! Many a Thomas has been written as Edward.
BACKGROUND-
ALPHABET SOUP
Sometimes it helps to know the origin of a letter's shape, so that you're aware of the shape that the scribe was 'trying' to make.
A bit of background, as to where our modern day handwriting originated
ALPHABET SOUP
Sometimes it helps to know the origin of a letter's shape, so that you're aware of the shape that the scribe was 'trying' to make.
A bit of background, as to where our modern day handwriting originated
SLIDESHOW
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SLIDESHOW
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DIFFERENCES
Putting the letters into similar groups helps, so I've developed my own categories, the scribe will tend to use all of one style. (slide shows of categories further down the page)
CATEGORY 1
- The Doables Letters which most of us could easily reconize CATEGORY 4
- The Doodles Some Scribes, added lots of doodles, making it hard to see the letters. CATEGORY 7
- The Divers Some letters, just look as if they're upside down. CATEGORY 10
- The Digits If the letter was written a bit hesitantly, it could make it look a bit strange, more like numbers. |
CATEGORY 2
- The Dots One of the many styles, was to 'Dot' the Capitals CATEGORY 5
- The Diverters Letters off into a different direction, than the one that they're suppose to go in. CATEGORY 8
- The Doubles Early Scribes seemed to love to do double letters, most likely to signify capitals?. CATEGORY 11
- The Dropouts Some couldn't be bothered going all the way down or up, maybe they thought- "That will do', or 'that's close enough" |
CATEGORY 3
- The Droopers The letters that lean over, either right & some to the left. CATEGORY 6
- The Dieters Some people have wide easy to read letters, others have thin bunched together letters. CATEGORY 9
- The Disguisers Some Scribes may have rushed their letters & not taken much care. CATEGORY 12
- The Doozies Another case, maybe the Scribe was thinking- "What's a 'c' suppose to look like?", "hmmm, something like this, I think?" |
CATEGORY 13
- The Duos The letters that were introduced later on, such as in 'j' which looks 'i' & 'u' which looks like 'v' Something to remember them by- 'Ice-cream & Jelly' & 'Uncooked Vegetables' |
CATEGORY 14
- The 'Magic Eye', or 'Where's Wally?' letters. They're in there somewhere, but you really have to focus hard to find them. |
Here are samples of as many different shapes of letters that I've found-
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I & J
K
L
M
N
O
P
Q
R
S
T
U & V
W
X
Y
Z
SOME LOWERCASE LETTERS
LOOK THE OPPOSITE TO WHAT THEY REALLY ARE
The Trick to remembering, is word association. See if you can remember the following
letters, by the food that they represent, in 'The Dinner'
LOOK THE OPPOSITE TO WHAT THEY REALLY ARE
The Trick to remembering, is word association. See if you can remember the following
letters, by the food that they represent, in 'The Dinner'
SLIDESHOWS
Most slides will advance within 5 seconds. You can pause at any time
Play & Pause in top left hand corner
Most slides will advance within 5 seconds. You can pause at any time
Play & Pause in top left hand corner
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It actually helps if you can train your eye to see things that don't stand out at first. A letter might look like something at first, then if you look a little harder & longer, it may just jump out at you, as what it really is. There's a knack to it & it isn't easy, but it's worth the practice.
Here are a few Websites to help you get a different slant on things.
Magic eye Inc.
http://www.magiceye.com/
Hidden Image Stereograms
http://www.vision3d.com/sghidden.html
Where's Wally? (Americans call him Waldo)
http://www.games21.com/wheres-wally/
Here's a hard one (you may have to zoom in)
http://www.kongregate.com/games/sariusa/wheres-waldo
Word Associations
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something to consider
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