Painting sizes and Framing

We all know how expensive framing can be. So, it pays to paint or draw on supports which are standard sizes so that cheaper, off-the-shelf frames could be used. The trouble is, 'standard' means different things to different nationalities.
Look at this site:

http://www.lucyart.co.uk/size.php

This shows sizes on sale in the UK. But beware! - the centimetres are approximate, the centimetres are precise.
Here in France we can get metric shapes, as shown at the bottom of this table, but here you will also come across 'traditional' sizes, often codified as "5F" or "6P" etc. where "F" stands for "Figure", "P' for "Paysage" (landscape), "M" for "Marine".

Also -look at this site:

http://alain.joly91.free.fr/paged_accueil_tailledestoiles.htm

I've been trying to trace the historical basis for these French traditional shapes but haven't got very far. Does anyone have any info on this subject, I wonder?

Mike

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