Post by neferetus on Apr 20, 2008 12:27:13 GMT -5
It´does´nt have to be Crockett´s signature just because it might be old. I think the real Crockett would have spelled his name correctly! The fact that the name is misspelled suggests a forgery/joke - at least to me...
Some food for thought, regarding Crockett's spelling:
"But I don't know of any thing in my book to be criticised on by honourable men. Is it on my spelling?---that's not my trade. Is it on my grammar?---I hadn't time to learn it, and make no pretensions to it. Is it on the order and arrangement of my book?---I never wrote one before, and never read very many; and, of course, know mighty little about that. Will it be the authorship of the book?---this I claim, and I'll hang on to it, like a wax plaster.... I despise this way of spelling contrary to nature. And as for grammar, it's pretty much a thing of nothing at last, after all the fuss that's made about it.... Big men have more important matters to attend to than crossing their t's, and dotting their i's---, and such like small things.... But just read for yourself, and my ears for a heel tap, if before you get through you don't say, with many a good-natured smile and hearty laugh, 'This is truly the very thing itself---the exact image of its Author, David Crockett.' Washington City, February 1st, 1834."
[Excerpt from the preface of Narrative of the Life of David Crockett of the State of Tennessee written by Himself]
Also, Rich Curilla once posted something interesting on thealamofilm site regarding Crockett's spelling. Rich related how, when sitting for a painting, Crockett had told the artist that he wanted his name showing on his knife handle, but that if the artist could not fit the entire name, he could just leave off with "Crocket", as he (David) was not fond of spelling the name with two "t"s anyhow.
(Rich went on to note how the artist did in fact manage to fit the entire name on the handle.)