Dear Boss

[lynn cates]

points

Hello Maria.

"most people are inconsistent in slant"

Hmmm, new one on me. All my letters are without slant--bolt upright. Right slant is common, left, a bit rare. My slope is also quite consistent--over 30 degrees downward left to right. Also, margin migration is always to the right.

"As for forgery purposes, I'm sure slope and slant is easier to fake than specific letter shape."

Quite right--PROVIDED you are aware of it. As I said earlier, all the discussions of forgery that I have followed were focused ONLY on letter formation.

Cheers.
LC

[ChrisGeorge]

As a matter of fact, I'm about to email him back.
(Just entered my apartment in Berlin and gotta run to the post office, after a more or less sleepless night.)

Lynn, why are the margins important to you?
In the post scriptum I see a different ink apart from obvious haste in the handwriting, but I'm sleepless and my eyes hurt (only slept on the plane for a couple hours, turbulence and all).

Hi Maria

The postscript was written in red crayon or pencil. It was not written in red ink as was the letter itself.

Best regards

Chris

[Stewart P Evans]

The whole of the letter...

...
The clear copy used on Casebook shows a left shift in margin--very rare. But if the letter was written that way, it could eliminate VERY many writers.
On the other hand, IF the letter were slightly cocked upon being photographed, it would prove fruitless for identification of a suspect.
...
LC

The photographs I have posted here show the whole of the letter, including the edges, so I don't see how 'cocking' comes into it.

[mariab]

inconsistencies

Lynn, I'm not sure if it's a sign of “creativity“, but most people are inconsistent in slant. I know I am. Obviously it depends on the height and straightness of the desk or surface where one's writing, and on if one's always writing their letters on the same desk. For some people (like athletes or people who went to war) it even depends on which part of the arm is injured at any given time. (Like right now, there's no way I could stand to put my lacerated elbow on the table when writing. :-))
As for forgery purposes, I'm sure slope and slant is easier to fake than specific letter shape.

[lynn cates]

geniuses, et al

Hello Maria. Yes, that's it.

It is not infrequent that creative types show no consistency in such items. On the other hand, we slow, plodding types . . . .

Cheers.
LC

[lynn cates]

margin of error

Hello Mr. Evans. When some people (like myself) compose a letter, they (and I) begin nearly flush left; but, by the bottom of the page, the margin has wandered towards the right--in my case, a good deal.

The clear copy used on Casebook shows a left shift in margin--very rare. But if the letter was written that way, it could eliminate VERY many writers.

On the other hand, IF the letter were slightly cocked upon being photographed, it would prove fruitless for identification of a suspect.

Thanks.

Cheers.
LC

[mariab]

Hello Maria. Margin--along with slope and slant--are the best indicators of the writer's identity. They are least likely to be forged for the reasons I articulated in some previous posts.

Lynn, are you talking about margin shift, as in it shifting to the right (or to the left)? I can assure you that in the manuscripts I'm fairly familiar with (Scribe and Meyerbeer, among else) the margins are completely inconsistent.

What do you mean by 'shifting margins'?

I think he means if the handwriting is a bit asymmetrical and moves closer to the right or left margins from line to line.

Get some sleep.

That's precisely what my boss said. :-) I need to hold on another hour, make a phone call to Chicago, then can collapse.

[Stewart P Evans]

Not Quite Sure

Hello Mr. Evans. Thanks for this.
Can you recall the original, before being photographed? If so, do you recall whether:
1. The left margin were very straight?
2. The left margin shifted left?
3. The left margin shifted right?
Thanks again.
Cheers.
LC

I'm not quite sure what you mean. The photographs are of the full letter exactly as it was returned to New Scotland Yard. Ergo the margins are exactly as they were and are in the original letter. What do you mean by 'shifting margins'?

[lynn cates]

identity

Hello Maria. Margin--along with slope and slant--are the best indicators of the writer's identity. They are least likely to be forged for the reasons I articulated in some previous posts.

Get some sleep.

Cheers.
LC

[mariab]

Hello Maria. Thanks. Perhaps he will pop round to the thread and comment.

As a matter of fact, I'm about to email him back.
(Just entered my apartment in Berlin and gotta run to the post office, after a more or less sleepless night.)

Lynn, why are the margins important to you?
In the post scriptum I see a different ink apart from obvious haste in the handwriting, but I'm sleepless and my eyes hurt (only slept on the plane for a couple hours, turbulence and all).

[lynn cates]

question

Hello Mr. Evans. Thanks for this.

Can you recall the original, before being photographed? If so, do you recall whether:

1. The left margin were very straight?

2. The left margin shifted left?

3. The left margin shifted right?

Thanks again.

Cheers.
LC

[lynn cates]

Rob

Hello Maria. Thanks. Perhaps he will pop round to the thread and comment.

Cheers.
LC

[lynn cates]

conclusion

Hello Tom. Minimalist? (heh-heh)

Cheers.
LC

[mariab]

Thank you so much, Mr. Evans. These are good quality black and white photos. (Apart from the post scriptum, which looks like in a different ink?)

[Stewart P Evans]

Envelope

Below is the original envelope as photographed in 1987. From this and the above photographs it should be fairly obvious that the original sender of the letter had merely folded it in four to place it into the envelope for posting. The actual letter measures seven inches wide by nine inches long.