Crossed Letters

I received this curious post-script from my pen pal Alan. If you're having trouble reading it, here is the transcription:

"Thinking of log and log graph paper got me thinking. Have you ever come across 'crossed' letters? In the days before adhesive stamps and the Penny Post in 1841, letters were charged by the sheet rather than by weight. To save money some people developed really tiny handwriting but others used to fit more on the page by 'crossing' their letters, writing across the lines at 90°. I read a few of these while researching for my book on Charles Clark and they are not as impossible to read as they might at first appear. Still, however expensive the mail gets, I do not think the practice will return. At least, I hope not! -Alan"

In truth, it's not that difficult to read, as he says. I think your brain gets used to it after a while. Alan's letter sent me to the Internet to look for more historic examples. I'd seen letters of the tiniest of tiny scripts, but never a crossed letter.Delightedly, in my search, I discovered this write up by Mary Robinette Kowal on the Lettermo site about letter writing in the Regency where she specifically mentions crossed letters. Facsinating! What's the weirdest letter you've ever had to decipher? Tell us about it in the comments.

Comments

[Chris Purcell]

Excellent handwriting, Alan!

[melydia]

A friend of mine back in high school would often write her notes to me in a big spiral. I'm not very good at reading upside-down so it was kind of difficult to read subtly, as I had to keep spinning the paper round and round. :) Incidentally, she had very neat but very tiny handwriting.

[Claire]

Jane Austen references crossed letters in "Emma," when Miss Bates tells Emma about Jane Fairfax's letter: "but, first of all, I really must, in justice to Jane, apologise for her writing so short a letter—only two pages you see—hardly two—and in general she fills the whole paper and crosses half". Fun fact!

[Ashley]

I, too, was reminded of Jane Austen!I believe that she wrote to her sister like that.

[Limner]

Mrs. Duffy and I tried our hand at tracking down examples of this last year. We failed. We tried it. We did not care for it.

[Joan Clarke]

I used to do this while sitting in class during a lecture. I found it very easy to read what I'd written. Why I did it I have no clue.

As far as having a hard deciphering: My Mother-in-laws handwriting...the worst ever, hardly more than hen scratching.

[GinaVisione]

This is fantastic. As often as I tout visual clarity for the reader and for persons with visual impairments, I am going to try this with at least one pen pal I know will appreciate it!

I was able to read Alan's letter with no problems! :D

On occasion I write notes or letters in the round and round and round you go. But the most fun was reading my first backwards/mirror letter from Miss Carollee :D.

[Cesar]

Sounds like fun :-) watch-out! Let me coin it the "90 gram" :-)