Beeby writning 7 and 9

[Roger Horton]

Having just spent some happy hours squinting at Beeby's dates I begin to think that often when he writes 1891 it is seen as 1871. I have uplaoded two images that may help. Looking closely you can see a small spike on the top of the 7 in 1871.

!871:



..and 1891:

[oldnick]

which would mean the 726 at top right of lower label would have to be 926.... I find that this is a usual way in that era of writing 7, and I find more gradation between '7' and 7, than between '7' and 9. And I have taken it that Beeby operated in the 1870s and 80s, rather than the 90s. I believe 9 is written by starting at the top of the stalk, and doing the loop last, but 7 by starting at the left of the bar and doing the stalk last.[/b]