Nengo Handwriting Assistance Request

[Okiiimo]

I'm have some wartime photographs of my grandfather who served in the IJA and I'm working on deciphering the handwritten notes on the backs. Attached are two nengo that I could use assistance with. The first one is fairly straight forward. I can't read the kanji number as it so different from text book examples (circled in green). I think it might be "shi" but I'm uncertain. The second nengo I think is written in imperial year ( 2600?), again I'm uncertain on this one.

 

Thank you! This information will greatly assist me in putting the photos in chronological order. My goal is to have these put into electronic albums that I hope the kids will someday value as a part of their heritage.

[Ray Singer]

The first attachment is the date Showa Ju Yon Nen Yon Gatsu Ju Ni Ka (April 12, 1939).

 

The second may begin with 2,600th year, which if correct would likely refer to 1940.

[Okiiimo]

Thank you Raymond!

 

The handwriting is throwing me off. Since I'm very early in learning kanji, I just don't have enough experience to recognize the handwriting from printed examples - too much variance for me. In the first photo, I thought it might be a four, but the separate vertical stroke doesn't seem to fit. For the other, it looks like it should represent 2600, but the clue I have is the 0 0. The hand writing doesn't look like 26 in either kanji or alphanumeric form.

 

The photographs I have are from the late 30's to maybe mid 40's. So the more certain and exact I can be on the years is important to putting them in correct order.

 

Thanks again!

[SwordGuyJoe]

For the first one, those are 4's (四). I've not checked Ray's math, since, lets face it, he knows more than me.

 

Second one I can't hazard a guess, nor can I see anything to confirm or deny Ray's post.

[Okiiimo]

Thanks Joe!

 

I should add, I believe Raymond is correct and it makes sense in the context of the photos. I having trouble with recognition of the handwriting. I wouldn't call it sloppy, it's just so different from text kanji that I'm trying to figure out an approach to reading it.

[Bugyotsuji]

Bottom kanji is Kigensetsu 紀元節

https://www.google.co.jp/search?q=kigensetsu&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&hl=en-jp&client=safari

[Okiiimo]

Thank you Piers! That gives the photo a specific date of February 11, 1940! Prior to your enlightenment, I was deciphering the middle character as Kû.