I like Ron but he sounded like he was in a big hurry in that post and was just regurgitating skeptical remarks from others. I would like him to have a close look at the graphics but it’s his time, not mine.
I agree that the “E.F. Lavender” business was puerile. My name is Johnson...people have fun with it for various reasons. That proves zilch. FReepers have already located an Eric Lavender. The document number makes perfect sense if the record is in a “Book 44” under the “O’s.”
This lavender soap thing looks to me pretty lame. Its like saying, if the signature on the bottom was A. B. Green, that the document was a fraud because Green is a ecological movement. I’ve done some searching for lavender soap... doesn’t appear to be any brand name, but lots of soaps have a lavender color (pale bluish purple), and advertise that fact. Anyways, Lavender seems like a great last name... as a kid, maybe the guy was nicknamed “soap”, lol.
Post 5155
I had noticed some things about the document.
1. Looks like it has been stapled (left type) so it seems there was more than one page.
2. The stain appears to be, to me, a rust stain. I have seen this from staples/paper clips and such, but it’s either a small item or the item is in only partial contact.... like a bent staple. It’s possible it was caused by another document (with a staple) that was placed on this one.
3. The document has been handled (folded) enough that there are visible tears in the fold. The folds and damage would lead me to believe (if authentic) that it was someone’s personal copy.
4. It looks, to me, like there is a glue strip (as if it were torn from a pad) at the top, this is consistent with many forms I have used.
5. The printed and typed parts of the document look similar to documents I have seen (all US documents) and I see no glaring problems with either.
6. Little can be determined, from a picture, about the paper. Also not enough detail shown on the seal to make a comment.
That’s about what I have, for what it’s worth. From what I see I would say..... it may be a forgery, but it’s not a clumsy/childish one as many have claimed..