Francis Spurzheim Craig

[Abby Normal]

Hi Debra
You mentioned earlier that there was something research related that left you gobsmacked. Are you comfortable elaborating on what it was at this point? I highly value your opinion.

[Debra A]

I'll have a look when I get home. Is it just one signature used for comparison? The ones I've seen show quite a lot of variation, which will further complicate things, I dare say.

It's difficult to say, Sally. There's just one signature and the envelope in the limited preview. Maybe the author won't even think they are similar himself!

[Sally]

I'll have a look when I get home. Is it just one signature used for comparison? The ones I've seen show quite a lot of variation, which will further complicate things, I dare say.

[Debra A]

Thank you for that my dear ....I can see similarities I can also see that some letters are very different the y for example is totally different.

There's a 'y' in the signature?

[pinkmoon]

Sorry, not my place to do that, Pinkmoon. I can only link to the preview. If you are outside of the UK you probably won't be able to view it though.

google books preview

Looking at it again strike the 'strikingly'-they do look similar though.

Thank you for that my dear ....I can see similarities I can also see that some letters are very different the y for example is totally different.

[Debra A]

Any chance of posting it on here please my dear

Sorry, not my place to do that, Pinkmoon. I can only link to the preview. If you are outside of the UK you probably won't be able to view it though.

google books preview

Looking at it again strike the 'strikingly'-they do look similar though.

[Debra A]

Hi Debra

Yes, that was my impression - I hadn't seen that bit of the Google book review, but that only reinforces what I thought. Ideally you could do with more than Craig's signature for comparison.

Against the undeniable similarity maybe that if Craig did write the Dear Boss letter, he apparently made no attempt to disguise his handwriting.

Still, it might be tricky to rule him out as the writer - interesting.

I think your last sentence will end up applying here, Sally. Some will say similar,( like me,) others will disagree. These kind of things rarely ever get resolved, you're right.

[Debra A]

But bearing in mind the Victorians were all taught to write in the same way that may be just coincidence.

www.trevormarriott.co.uk

Individual quirks and style would still be present though to some extent and there was still a lot of variety in handwriting styles-you only have to look at the census enumerators books to see that although they have some things in common, there are many different styles from men who would probably have had a similar background and education.
It's just my opinion they look that similar though. Others may think not.

[pinkmoon]

Hi Sally,
I noticed one time I looked at the google book preview that Craig's signature was presented alongside the Dear Boss letter and the handwriting similarity was quite striking.

Any chance of posting it on here please my dear

[Sally]

But bearing in mind the Victorians were all taught to write in the same way that may be just coincidence.

www.trevormarriott.co.uk

True enough - it might. Most likely it'll be one of those unanswered questions that will never be resolved.

[Sally]

Hi Sally,
I noticed one time I looked at the google book preview that Craig's signature was presented alongside the Dear Boss letter and the handwriting similarity was quite striking.

Hi Debra

Yes, that was my impression - I hadn't seen that bit of the Google book review, but that only reinforces what I thought. Ideally you could do with more than Craig's signature for comparison.

Against the undeniable similarity maybe that if Craig did write the Dear Boss letter, he apparently made no attempt to disguise his handwriting.

Still, it might be tricky to rule him out as the writer - interesting.

[Trevor Marriott]

Hi Sally,
I noticed one time I looked at the google book preview that Craig's signature was presented alongside the Dear Boss letter and the handwriting similarity was quite striking.

But bearing in mind the Victorians were all taught to write in the same way that may be just coincidence.

https://www.trevormarriott.co.uk

[Digit]

That's good then, Digit, because that's not the theory.

The body of Jack the Ripper’s final victim is set to be exhumed as a new book claims the world’s most famous serial killer was her estranged husband.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ukne...-new-book.html

[Debra A]

I wonder if Craig did write the Dear Boss letter? Is this covered in the forthcoming book, I wonder? It seems to me that there's a case to be made there...

I think it might be tricky to discount the possibility, all things considered.

Hi Sally,
I noticed one time I looked at the google book preview that Craig's signature was presented alongside the Dear Boss letter and the handwriting similarity was quite striking.

[Livia]

I agree Robert, that Craig sr. looks much like
Anthony Hopkins. I noticed that right away.