[Python] Convert an excel or spreadsheet column letter to its number in Pythonic fashion

Is there a more pythonic way of converting excel-style columns to numbers (starting with 1)?

Working code up to two letters:

def column_to_number(c):
"""Return number corresponding to excel-style column."""
number=-25
for l in c:
if not l in string.ascii_letters:
return False
number+=ord(l.upper())-64+25
return number


Code runs:

>>> column_to_number('2')
False
>>> column_to_number('A')
1
>>> column_to_number('AB')
28


Three letters not working.

>>> column_to_number('ABA')
54
>>> column_to_number('AAB')
54


Reference: question answered in C#

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