Ms. Lee Anne, as you mentioned, I would not overlook the possibility of purposely embellished script, especially in Victorian times.  My own father, who was very barely able to read and write, wrote his name with several flourishes and was not consistent in those shapes, marks and configurations.  

Personally I have found NO steadfast consistency in the handwriting of anyone, even in the same individual when comparing his youthful script with his hand when aged.  

Then too, I find no reasons for consistency dictated by any particular language.  I do, however, check this website when I need to delve into German handwriting, script, etc.  Paul
http://thorin.adnc.com/~lynnd/vutool4.html    

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Lee Anne Center 
  To: [log in to unmask] 
  Sent: Sunday, December 05, 2004 10:35 AM
  Subject: hand-written lower-case r-looking florish that is in front of and joins the first letter of given and surnames?


  Maybe a signature I saw was just a unique fashion statement, but maybe not.

  Has anyone studied handwriting enough to know where a person in the 1700s
  and 1800s might be from if he put a hand-written lower-case r-looking
  florish in front of his given and surname? The lower-case r joins the first
  letter.

  This man was said to have immigrated from Germany. Was signing like that
  common in Germany or European countries in the late 1700s to mid-1800s?

  Lee Anne


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