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Bedrock Of The Community

Australia
27457 Posts |
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James recently posted a postcard with criss cross writing, it's the latest I have ever seen, but is odd in that it's not stamped? If the sender sent the card in a cover, you would think he/she would have written inside that. Anyhows, for the record, here is an example beautiful criss cross writing.. ack: A first guide to stamp collecting-Neill granger Oxford Uni Press 1994 
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Edited by rod222 - 08/24/2012 11:41 am |
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Pillar Of The Community
Canada
4577 Posts |
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Interesting Rod
I think it would have been a little difficult to read at times, but, obviously this was done more frequently that most would realize.
Chimo
Bujutsu |
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Bedrock Of The Community

Australia
27457 Posts |
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Agreed Bujutsu, but different times, plenty of time to read and work out what was being said Letters would have been absolutely treasured.
I recall reading of the Duke of York's letters home from Portugal when he was fighting Napoleon, 3 weeks was considered fast. Prior to the penny post, letters were very expensive, well out of reach of the common man I should think.
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Pillar Of The Community
Canada
6407 Posts |
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Quote: James recently posted a postcard with criss cross writing, it's the latest I have ever seen, but is odd in that it's not stamped? If the sender sent the card in a cover, you would think he/she would have written inside that. Rod there were several other cards in the lot also addressed and filled out with remarks, but no postage. Don't know how the recipient got them. They were all to the same lady. |
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Pillar Of The Community
Canada
1227 Posts |
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Bedrock Of The Community

Australia
27457 Posts |
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Pillar Of The Community
Canada
650 Posts |
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Rod I have to say the letter you posted is a beauty. To me it is simply a work of art. |
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Pillar Of The Community
United States
966 Posts |
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This is one of my favorite covers:  And this is the write-up/translation:  |
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Pillar Of The Community
Canada
6407 Posts |
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chip, that is a wonderful letter. What are the squiggles (technical term) inside the box next to the addressees name, beside Fairfield, Conn.? |
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Pillar Of The Community
United States
966 Posts |
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The "squiggles" are shorthand (phonography). There are more in the little scroll at the top left. See: http://phono.cgpostal.com/Here's a mailer from one of the larger publishers of phonographic texts:  |
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Edited by chipg - 08/24/2012 4:18 pm |
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Pillar Of The Community
United States
5877 Posts |
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I can see why, very lovely! |
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APS Member #: 222539 AAPE, Maplewood Stamp Club (MN), Northern Philatelic Society, US Philatelic Classics Society, Auxiliary Markings Club, Canal Zone Study Group, Minnesota Postal History Society |
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Pillar Of The Community
2361 Posts |
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In some cases, criss-crossing meant the writer had only one sheet of paper but two pages worth of news. Out in the boonies, before the Civil War, paper was expensive and hard to find. |
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Bedrock Of The Community

Australia
27457 Posts |
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What a wonderful exhibit Chip. Rather awe inspiring. Where do you go when you begin research on this sort of thing? It would make a nice story methinks.
Pitman's shorthand was (the) method in my time, I recall my sister having Spirax notebooks full of those squiggles. I hadn't come across "phonogrophy" in that sense before.
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Pillar Of The Community
United States
966 Posts |
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Re: Cross writing - Until 1847, postage was charged based on the mileage and number of sheets of paper, regardless of the size. That's one reason why envelopes were not used - they would have doubled the postage charges due. Likewise, if you enclosed 2 banknotes in a folded lettersheet, you'd be paying 3x the postage. Cross writing was one way to double the amount you could write and not incur additional postage charges. Re: Phonography. Start with one cool-looking cover, decide that it needs some company, search around for 10 years or so, get proficient with the Google machine to learn enough to write it up. (c.f. maps - http://maps.cgpostal.com) |
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