On the Bi-embeddability of Certain Steiner Triple Systems of Order 15

There are 80 non-isomorphic Steiner triple systems of order 15. A standard listing of these is given in Mathon et al.(1983, Ars Combin., 15, 3–110). We prove that systems #1 and #2 have no bi-embedding together in an orientable surface. This is the first known example of a pair of Steiner triple systems of ordern , satisfying the admissibility condition n ≡ 3 or 7(mod 12), which admits no orientable bi-embedding. We also show that the same pair has five non-isomorphic bi-embeddings in a non-orientable surface.