I was one of those who saw the big thread when it first broke. As a matter of fact, when I first opened it, there were only three comments.
I grabbed a copy of the pic on Sunday, August 02, 2009, 6:47:18 AM, but never opened it up in my own computer to carefully scrutinize it. Like you, I kept reading the thread, and going along with the reasoning in the discussion. I never questioned the serial number, or the name of E.F. Lavender.
It wasn't until I spotted this thread that I actually opened up the pic I captured myself, and studied it carefully. Doggone, if it doesn't have a clear serial number of 47644, and the name K.F. Lavender clearly legible.
Very very weird ...