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Old Photographs, Recognition, Handwriting Deciphering => Handwriting Deciphering & Recognition => Topic started by: Rodgerslad on Monday 21 August 17 23:43 BST (UK)
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Hi everyone, could someone please help me try to decipher the surname of a photograph of a man I have found. I know the first initials are G B but what about the surname, any ideas?
Thanks.
Andy
(https://s27.postimg.org/4hq66yu43/IMG_8610.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
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Welcome to rootschat Andy. :)
It looks a bit like Morg or Mogliane. :-\
Given that the photo was taken in Melbourne maybe it is a Greek or Italian surname and not instantly recognizable.
Are you trying to trace the photo or the person whose name appears on the back?
Have you checked Vic BMDs or Electoral Rolls for any likely candidates?
What era was the photo taken? (this might help find him if people know where and when to look)
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Hi Andy and welcome from me too...Maghian...Morghian.
Carol
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Wow, thanks so much for the quick replies!
I think it dates to around 1880, I am trying to trace the man on the photo. Do you definitely think t begins with M then? I was confused as it almost looks like they have lifted the pen up twice to write the 'arches' of the letter.
Andy
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Perhaps if you showed the photograph too some-one may be able to identify the person that way.
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This is a photo of the man. I have no idea what the star badges on the lapels mean either if anyone knows?
(https://s27.postimg.org/y5y0jn0tv/IMG_8614.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
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Foster and Martin were photographers at 29-31 Collins street from 1879 to 1889 - see http://trove.nla.gov.au/work/167155451?q&versionId=182157481 This would be about the same date of a photograph of John Oliver and his wife and daughters sent to England around that time which my mother remembered looking at when she was a child. She remembered reading 'Melbourne' on the back. If only we started our research early. In 1956 when I first came to Melbourne I had no idea that one of John Oliver's daughters was still living - only just round the corner from where I stayed in Mordialloc. I found the family eventually but too late for my Mum to meet them when she visited us.
The end of the name almost looks like l'ame as the flourish from the previous letter 'g' maybe doesn't go anywhere near the continuation.
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Yes I think the surname starts with an M. :)
I'm sure someone will be able to help you identify the collar badges. The tie is distinctive too.
Did the photograph belong to a family member? Keep in mind though that the sitter and the name on the back may not be one and the same, but I suppose you've got to start somewhere. :)
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I think the second letter looks more like an 'a', and Magliano would be a common Italian name that fits, although it could also be Magliane or Magliani.
Steve
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Sorry I can't help with name but is this enhanced version any help?
Annie
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Looks like G B Morgliany, with a long tail of the y coming back under the full signature. A
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Thank you so much for your help and suggestions everyone. What a brilliant forum, to receive such a quick and friendly response.
I think I will try and go down the line of finding out what the star badges could be and see if I can find anything there.
Thanks again all.
Andy
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Thank you so much for your help and suggestions everyone. What a brilliant forum, to receive such a quick and friendly response.
I think I will try and go down the line of finding out what the star badges could be and see if I can find anything there.
Thanks again all.
Andy
My thoughts on the star badges were that they might have been some kind of uniform - say a cable car conductor - but cannot see any similarity with the uniforms shown on Melbourne Tramways Museum pages. OR something like the Masons for there were quite a number of Societies at that time, such as the IOOF - Independent Order of the Odd Fellows.
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I wondered if the collar badges had a connection to The White Star Line shipping company?
Carol
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Yes, when I was doing research about the white star lapel badge, the only thing I came up with was the orchestra of the Titanic. So maybe you are correct. A White Star Line musician maybe? Especially with Melbourne being a major port.
(https://s27.postimg.org/p90q2d88j/Titanic_Orchestra.png) (https://postimages.org/)
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I wondered if the collar badges had a connection to The White Star Line shipping company?
Carol
I rather doubt it. I've had a look at the White Star uniforms and they don't have anything on the lapels so if he was working in one of their shipping offices it is unlikely that they would have had anything on the lapels.
Might be something on trove about society uniforms in Australia in the 1800's.
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Could be something to do with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows - they used a star - http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/10245800 So their officers might have had something like that.
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They did. The IOOF had uniforms with a star on each lapel - see http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/26/us/26land.html
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Nice one Malcolm 8)
Carol
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That is great, thanks ever so much :)
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Attire may have changed over time, but the stars in the old photo are larger and on a different part of the lapel from those in the modern example provided by Malcolm. Tie is different too though that may have been "modernised" over the years too.
A quick google didn't find any examples of old Oddfellows attire but it might be worth looking into.
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It may be Magliano/i. On FS there is a relatively recent family (20th century) of Magliano in Victoria in Australia and other locations in Australia. The name seems to originate in Italy.